Question

how does the topic "limits to human rights" relate to our recent issue of COVID-19?

Answer 1

Some of the most fundamental human rights like prohibitions on torture, on salvery, etc. are absolute i.e., it is not permitted to restrict these rights. But most of these rights like rights to freedom of expression, freedom of movement, etc. are not absolute in character. The State has the authority to limit the exercise of these rights for valid reasons. For example, these rights can be suspended due to outbreak of an emerging disease or for the need of countering terrorism, etc. We know that in March 2020, World Health Organization declared that there is an outbreak of viral disease COVID 19. It was declared a global pandemic. World Health Organization directed governments to take strict actions to stop the spread of this disease on urgent basis. The disease has become a threat to public health all over the world due to which restrictions on certain human rights like freedom of movement have been implemented. This was done because there is a valid evidence that quarantine or isolation helps to deal with this disease & reduce its impact & even cure it. Imposition of quarantine or isolation limits freedom of movement but it is strictly necessary to put such restrictions in the context of serious public health threats. These retrictions are for a limited duration of time & in order to achieve the objective of eliminating or reducing the impact of this viral disease. So, restrictions on some human rights are justified, if it is done as a means to prevent threats to public health. As per International Human Rights law, it is the responsibility of the government to take necessary steps to prevent threats to public health as well as to provide adequate medical treatment to those who require it. So, we can see that this is how the topic "limits to human rights" is related to our recent issue of COVID-19.