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Africa News of Tuesday, 28 April 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Flogging, detaining or abusing people for breaking curfew is bad, UN says

UN Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet (Reuters) UN Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet (Reuters)

UN Human Rights Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet has warned countries against the use of excessive force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bachelet said countries should not use emergency powers as a weapon to quash dissent and control the population.

Noting that the "threat is a virus, not people," the agency told the governments to be lenient.

She said shooting, detaining or abusing people for breaking curfew because they are desperately searching for food is unacceptable and unlawful.

The UN body she heads said more than 17,000 South Africans have been arrested as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

In Kenya, 27 human rights organisations have written an open letter to the government demanding that it stops punishing curfew offenders by forcefully sending them into quarantine centres.

About 32,100 coronavirus cases have been reported in 52 African countries, with 1,428 deaths and 9,741 recoveries.

South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda are among countries where security forces have used repressive measures to enforce restrictions to movement.