The Defender of Rights Claire Hédon reiterated Friday, May 21, 2021 her concern about the health pass provided for by a bill under consideration in Parliament. – ISA HARSIN
There is better, but it is not yet. During a joint committee on Thursday, deputies and senators agreed on the bill governing the exit from the state of health emergency, in particular via a “health pass”. The Defender of Rights (DDD) welcomed “changes […] some of which are in line with the recommendations of the Defender of Rights “such as” the inclusion in the text of additional guarantees […] with a view to protecting rights and freedoms, in particular health data ”.
However, Claire Hédon asks for “details” on several points: if the “health pass” applies to children, its period of validity “in the event of recognized immunity after a Covid-19 infection” and more details on the methods of evaluation of the device. Also, it stresses that the “text does not specify the obligations imposed on professionals and volunteers working in places and establishments open to the public, which may raise the risk of discrimination”.
What attacks on individual freedoms?
The health pass will make access to major events, more than 1,000 people according to the government’s promise, subject to presentation of a negative result of screening for the virus, proof of vaccination, or a certificate of recovery after contamination.
Introduced by the government by amendment to the National Assembly, the health pass will be limited to large gatherings and subject to a series of measures limiting attacks on individual freedoms. It can only be implemented in places that do not ensure compliance with barrier gestures and only authorized persons can carry out checks.
Short deadlines and no consultation
The DDD “deeply regrets that the government has presented [le pass sanitaire] by amendment, within particularly short periods of time and without consultation ”. “This procedure does not make it possible to benefit from the information and guarantees on the form and the substance which would have brought an impact study and an opinion of the Council of State”, estimates the institution.
The bill must be the subject of a final vote in the National Assembly on May 25, then in the Senate on May 27, being final adoption by Parliament.