The United Nations (UN) has stated that the use of Pegasus against the Catalan pro-independence movement is a violation of fundamental human rights. In addition, it has demanded that the Spanish state take "all necessary measures to protect the fundamental rights" of the victims; and has urged Spain to investigate, prosecute, impose appropriate sanctions and "take effective measures" to prevent such acts from happening again.
This statement is another wake-up call to the Spanish state, which has often been criticized for its handling of the Pegasus case, especially with regard to the pro-independence victims. The resolution responds to a communiqué presented by Secretary General of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), Marta Rovira, said the party in a statement. The text is signed by three special rapporteurs: the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
In the text, the UN expressed "very serious concern" about this "extensive and well-coordinated spy programme" on pro-independence activists and public figures. It also denounced that the massive spying violated the right "to peaceful assembly and to participate in associations", to "have a private life and privacy in correspondence", to "be equal before the law", as well as endangering "the right to freedom of opinion and expression in Catalonia".
The statement includes the spying on Catalan President, Pere Aragonès; Catalan Minister of Foreign Action and the EU, Meritxell Serret; former leaders of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), Elisenda Paluzie and Jordi Sánchez; lawyer Andreu Van den Eynde; ERC leader Marta Rovira; former ERC MP and current director of the Catalan government's Office of Strategy and Communication, Sergi Sabrià, or Republican MEPs Jordi Solé and Riba. ERC hopes that this decision will encourage the Spanish justice system to stop obstructing the course of the lawsuits filed.
Catalangate before the United Nations
This is not the first time that Catalangate has reached the United Nations. Last June, President of Òmnium Cultural, Xavier Antich, denounced the facts before the Human Rights Council. Antich appeared at the Geneva headquarters via a video and called for the Spanish government to be held accountable for the spying on pro-independence supporters proved by Citizen Lab. "Citizen Lab certified that 65 people were illegally spied on in Catalonia. Catalangate is the biggest case of espionage in the world using Pegasus and there is convincing evidence that points to the Spanish state", said Antich.