Amnesty International Urges Italy Not To Discriminate Against Those Not Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Digital vaccine passport check in Parma, Italy. (Wikimedia Commons/Città di Parma)

JAKARTA - Human rights group Amnesty International is urging Italy, to change its strict anti-COVID restrictions, to avoid discrimination against people who are not vaccinated against COVID-19.

In a recent decree, the Italian Government under Prime Minister Mario Draghi made mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for everyone over the age of 50.

This provision applies to the use of public transport and a variety of other services, one of the few countries to take such steps, in an effort to reduce pressure on Italy's healthcare services. and reduce the death toll, citing Reuters January 17.

Amnesty International called for the provision of alternative measures, including the use of masks and COVID-19 testing, to allow the unvaccinated population to continue to work and use public transport "without discrimination", the group said in a statement issued over the weekend.

Under the current rules that are in effect until June 15, wearing a mask and a negative COVID-19 test result is not enough to access public transportation or, for people over 50, to their place of work.

Amnesty International Italia, the local branch of the human rights group, said mandatory COVID-19 vaccination was justifiable but needed to be time-limited and "comparable" to the legitimate aim of protecting public health.

"The government must continue to ensure that all citizens can enjoy their fundamental rights, such as the right to education, employment and medial care, especially for non-COVID patients who require urgent surgery," they said.