ICJ To Move UNHRC Against China For Seeking COVID 19 Reparations

The International Council of Jurists and the All India Bar Association have filed a complaint in the United Nations Human Rights Council against China for committing “grave offences against humanity” throughout the world, in the form of COVID 19, from ‘outbreak to pandemic’. The ICJ is a body of eminent jurist from across the world, striving to alleviate the social and economic needs of people and to offers a provision of free legal aid to the poor. They have complained that, “China has caused serious physical, psychological, economic and social harm to the member-nations by unleashing COVID 19 on the world. It has allegedly violated many Charters and Guidelines issued by the United Nations and consequently, endangered the lives of millions and business across the world”.

The complaint lodged by Dr Adish C Aggarwal, president of ICJ and chairman of All India Bar Association, is against the ‘People’s Republic of China’, the ‘People’s Liberation Army’, and the ‘Wuhan Institute of Virology’ jointly, for “conspiring a biological warfare” against the whole world and ultimately, aiming at catapulting itself to become a ‘superpower country of the world’. The ICJ has peg down that how the

Chinese government and authorities have conscientiously unfolded this desire. It stated that the coronavirus outbreak has started on December 1, 2019, in China but the competitive authorities denied it till January 2020. On January 23, 2020, nearly two months after detecting its first case in Wuhan, it announced its first case to the world. By this time, the Chinese, not being the restraint of travelling and thus spread the virus to significant parts of the globe through asymptomatic patients. The Chinese authorities have deliberately hid the initial information of the outbreak and even reprimanded Dr Li Wenliang for spreading the information.

The complaint invoked different Articles being violated, id est, Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which deals with human rights to health and well-being by deliberately withholding the inevitable outbreak notice; Article 12 of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which stresses upon the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; Articles 6, 7, 9 of the International Health Regulations i.e., information-sharing obligations during unexpected or unusual public health events, by not issuing the prompt notice to the general public, health authorities, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).  The complainant has drawn the attention towards China’s legal liability under the Responsibility of States for International Wrongful Acts, 2001.

The International Council of Jurists urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to inquire into the matter and direct the Chinese government to ‘adequately compensate’ the international communities and member countries, particularly India for intentionally failing to fulfill its international obligations.

By-

KUMARI SIMRAN

Student Reporter, INBA

 REFERENCE: livelaw.in