On 6 April 2020, EUROMIL, together with a coalition of NGOs and trade unions, including ETUC, EPSU and Eurocadres, issued a joint statement calling on all public authorities and corporate institutions to protect those citizens and workers who expose harms, abuses, and serious wrongdoing during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

In these challenging times, EUROMIL particularly highlights the need to support workers at the frontline, including military personnel. Their health and safety as well as trade unions rights must be protected. The organisation insists that in no circumstances, their human rights or fundamental freedoms should be attacked or undermined. In this context of crisis, information and accountability are key.

TEXT OF THE STATEMENT:

The signatories to this letter call on all public authorities and institutions to protect those who report or expose the harms, abuses and serious wrongdoing that arise during this period of crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also encourage all citizens and workers to participate in ensuring our governments, corporate institutions and markets remain accountable, and in defending the human rights and freedoms of all people.

The COVID-19 pandemic brings into stark relief the importance of accountability and the need for regular and reliable information from our public institutions and our leaders. The people of every affected country need to know the truth about the spread of the disease both locally and internationally in order to respond effectively and help protect their communities. Fairness, transparency and cooperation are vital and never more so than during a pandemic.

We have already seen examples of wrongdoing and mismanagement in our public institutions, commercial markets and business as a result of COVID-19. Emerging areas of concern include health system capacity and delivery, public procurement, violations of health and safety and labor law, inequitable and ill-prepared global supply chains, unfair competition practices and market abuses, and significant violations of personal privacy rights at scale through the digital tracking of individuals.

Read the full statement here.