NHRC stresses right to mental health in the wake of COVID-19

The National Human Rights Commission constitutes a 'Committee of Experts on Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Rights and Future Response.' Various ministries, States and Union Territories are advised to implement the committee's recommendations and send a report on the actions taken.

New Delhi: In the wake of COVID-19 situation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued advisories to various ministries and States stressing on human rights aspects, including protection of the right to mental health, officials said on Tuesday.

The NHRC, in a statement, said in view of the unprecedented situation across the country and being "deeply concerned" about the rights of the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown, it constituted a 'Committee of Experts on Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Rights and Future Response.'

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The committee includes representatives from the civil society organisations, independent domain experts and representatives from the concerned ministries and departments. The committee is responsible to assess the impact of the pandemic on the rights of people, especially the marginalised and vulnerable sections of the population.

After due consideration of the impact assessment and recommendations made by the Committee of Experts, the commission issued advisories on the protection of the right to mental health in the pandemic situation.

The Commission also directed the ministries, States and Union Territories to implement the recommendations made in the advisories and send the report in compliance with the action taken, the statement said.

(PTI)