Coronavirus: UN calls for suspension of sanctions, Japanese Prime Minister postpones Tokyo Olympics.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday called for a “relaxation or suspension” of international sanctions against Iran and other countries, such as Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in this “crucial period” marked by the COVID-pandemic.
“It is vital to avoid the collapse of any country’s medical system – given the explosive impact that will have on death, suffering and wider contagion,” Bachelet said. “At this crucial time, both for global public health reasons, and to support the rights and lives of millions of people in these countries, sectoral sanctions should be eased or suspended. In a context of global pandemic, impeding medical efforts in one country heightens the risk for all of us.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday.
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“Humanitarian exemptions to sanctions measures should be given broad and practical effect, with prompt, flexible authorization for essential medical equipment and supplies,” Michelle Bachelet added in a statement.
Bachelet especially insisted on the situation in Iran, one of the countries most affected by the new coronavirus, along with China, Italy and Spain.
To date, more than 50 Iranian medical staff have lost their lives since the first cases of contamination with the new coronavirus in Iran, five weeks ago.
The UN representative was concerned about the possibility of spreading the SARS-CoV-2 virus from Iran to neighbouring countries, which would put the health systems such as those of Afghanistan and Pakistan in great danger.
Apart from China and Italy, the countries most affected by the COVID-19 epidemic are Spain (2696 deaths and 39,673 cases of infection), Iran (1,934 deaths and 24,811 cases of infection), France (860 deaths and 19,856 cases of infection ) and the USA (499 deaths and 46,440 cases of infection).
Japanese Prime Minister postpones Tokyo Olympics.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to call on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Tokyo Olympics for one year. The olympics were scheduled to begin on July 24.
Abe has scheduled a telephone conversation on Tuesday with CIO President Thomas Bach to discuss how the calendar can be readjusted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In the conversation between the two officials, Abe intends request Bach for the final decision to be made as soon as possible.
Various sports federations and national Olympic committees are pressing the IOC to accept the postponement of the Games.
The Government of Japan has previously supported the need for the Olympics to take place “in a complete form”, ie with spectators, given the possibility that the big sports event could take place on empty stadiums, due to the pandemic.
On Monday, Shinzo Abe stressed the impossibility of the Olympic competitions taking place in the current situation, and at the beginning of Tuesday it was announced that the issue will be analyzed by the head of the Japanese government with the president of the IOC.