A+ A-

Amnesty calls on EU to follow US lead in sharing vaccine rights

BRUSSELS, May 6 (KUNA) -- In response to the US government's announcement of its support for waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, the human rights organisation Amnesty International Thursday called on the European Union to do the same.
"Today, Europe wakes up to a new political reality that its position on hoarding the rights to make COVID-19 vaccines is now untenable. It is time for Europe to put everyone's health and human rights before private profit," said Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International's EU Office, in a statement.
"EU leaders must now join the global effort to save countless lives around the world by supporting the waiving of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, and ensuring companies share their know-how, so they can be produced with the speed and scale needed," said Amnesty.
"Vaccines for all are now in sight, and the world has their eyes firmly on EU leaders to take this bold step," it added.
In October 2020, India and South Africa requested a waiver that would allow countries to neither grant nor enforce patents and other specific intellectual property rights related to COVID-19 products until global herd immunity is achieved.
International human rights standards and trade rules are clear that protecting intellectual property must never come at the expense of public health, Amnesty noted.
Meanwhile, a European Commission spokesperson told an online press conference in Brussels today in response to the issue that "we are ready to consider all proposals and of course the proposal made by the US side". (end) nk.hb