FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Freedom House Offers Guidelines for Protecting Democracy during Pandemic

Washington  -  March 24, 2020 —  To accompany its release today of a set of democratic principles for governments to follow in their responses to the coronavirus pandemic, Freedom House issued the following statement:

“In this time of crisis, it is crucial that any government measures intended to stop the virus’s spread be transparent, necessary, proportionate, grounded in law, and nondiscriminatory,” said Mike Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “Urgent action to combat the pandemic should not become a pretext for political power grabs or illegitimate and unlawful restrictions on fundamental rights. Democracy should not and need not be sacrificed in the name of public health.”
 
See the set of principles here.