A/HRC/46/34 likely the “largest driver of the COVID-19 misinformation ‘infodemic’”128 in the United States. Such failures in leadership on following the science cost lives. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights observed: “The suppression or denial of scientific evidence in some circles and reluctance to adapt evidence-based policies have magnified the devastating harms the pandemic has generated.”129 50. Scientists have been prevented from speaking freely. In Turkmenistan, doctors were reportedly initially prohibited from even using the word “coronavirus”.130 In China, Dr. Li Wenliang, who attempted to warn colleagues about COVID-19, was censored and then detained for “spreading rumours” and “disturbing the social order” before his death from the virus, sparking protests in the country.131 51. The Special Rapporteur has been especially shocked by threats and attacks against public health officials in a number of countries; such officials should be recognized as acting as human rights defenders in a pandemic given their roles in protecting the rights to life, health and science. Their human rights must be respected and ensured, for them as individuals and also so they can defend the rights of others. A former top aide to President Trump called for the decapitation of a top public health official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, inciting increased threats against him and necessitating his protection by federal agents. 132 Whistle-blowing health-care workers have paid with their jobs in Nicaragua 133 and have been targeted for retaliation in the Russian Federation.134 In a range of countries, health-care workers faced abuse from some members of the public (while there have also been outpourings of support).135 There must be full investigations of all such threats and attacks, and perpetrators must be brought to justice in accordance with international standards. Governments must make it clear that such actions are beyond the pale. 52. None of this is accidental or incidental. Such threats to the right to science and scientific freedom, which undermine the human rights of many during the pandemic, are the direct result of, inter alia, insufficient scientific and public health education and the undermining of commitments to fact-based and evidence-based public discourse. Those underlying issues must be addressed. 53. The Special Rapporteur supports the open science approach elaborated in the first draft of a UNESCO recommendation on the topic.136 The draft preamble correctly states that “the global COVID-19 health crisis has proven worldwide the urgency of access to scientific information, sharing of scientific knowledge…, enhancing scientific collaboration and science- and knowledge-based decision-making to respond to global emergencies and increase the resilience of societies”. The Special Rapporteur supports the Joint Appeal for Open Science, 137 agreeing it “can reduce inequalities, help respond to the immediate challenges of Covid-19 and accelerate progress towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. V. Necessary steps for mitigating the impacts of the pandemic on cultural rights 54. Public investment and adequate funding are among the central issues for the enjoyment of cultural rights and for the survival and thriving of all arts and cultural sectors. 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 See https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/evanega-et-al-coronavirus-misinformation-submitted-0723-20-1/080839ac0c22bca8/full.pdf. See https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1076292. See https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/10/turkmenistan-coronavirus-pandemic-denial-strongmanberdimuhamedov/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sendto_newslettert est&stream=top. See www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/06/whistleblower-chinese-doctor-dies-from-coronavirus. See https://thegrio.com/2020/12/04/fauci-coronavirus-threats-agents/. See www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/23/nicaragua-doctors-fired-covid-19-comments. See www.hrw.org/news/2020/06/15/russia-health-workers-face-retaliation-speaking-out. See www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/09/14/coronavirus-death-threats-global-health-officials/. Available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000374837. Available at https://en.unesco.org/news/joint-appeal-open-science. 15