COVID 19: RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW

  • Mrs. Nimmi R. Menon

Abstract

An indispensible concept of international human rights law is that all human rights are universal, indivisible and interdependent. It is crucial to address these human rights obligations, notwithstanding the fact that these are remarkably affected by the various responses to the global pandemic. Covid 19 has surfaced as a major global health threat and has in fact, demonstrated the grim truth that all countries are equally exposed and unguarded to the spread of transmissible diseases. It has proved to be a war against the invisible enemy, and in itself has posed a threat to the enjoyment of human rights, most noticeably the right to life and the right to health. An inseparable association exists between right to health and other human rights. To diminish the spread of Covid 19, governments all through the world have initiated unavoidable necessary crucial measures that restrain individual, social and economic freedoms and rights. Adoption of measures to contain this global health crisis is warranted under human rights law, though some measures may have a detrimental effect on the enjoyment of a number of human rights. It is evident from international treaties like International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) that States may legitimately interfere with certain human rights through either limitations or derogations. Restrictions on certain freedoms might be temporarily demanded to deal with the pandemic outbreak. The reasons which prompted to choose these curtailments are of utmost importance. However, such curtailment should be carefully limited enough to manage the pandemic without any irreparable consequences, and constantly surveilled by respective authorities, let it by judicial authorities or legislative bodies, so that it is not taken undue advantage of. The undisputable truth that still remains is that this pandemic may culminate the world which was familiar to us, but the new world should be one where all human rights have its proper relevance. The present paper is an attempt to bring out the violations of human rights and the defiance of rule of law, meted out to the vulnerable sections of the society, though inevitable in the period of pandemic. Keywords: Covid 19, Human rights, Rule of law.
How to Cite
Mrs. Nimmi R. Menon. (1). COVID 19: RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS AND RULE OF LAW. ACCENT JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS ECOLOGY & ENGINEERING ISSN: 2456-1037 IF:8.20, ELJIF: 6.194(10/2018), Peer Reviewed and Refereed Journal, UGC APPROVED NO. 48767, 6(5), 78-81. Retrieved from https://ajeee.co.in/index.php/ajeee/article/view/2691