COVID-19 Restrictions and Impact on Human Rights

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created an international threat to public health. States to fully realise the protective mechanisms, limited the implementation of certain HRs. The research is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the anti-pandemic measures adopted in different states on HRs. Mainly, on the right to mental health protected under the right to health, and the right to freedom of movement. In addition, the legal issues caused by the restrictions of free movement, as one of the most restricted right during the pandemic, have been examined. The methods used allowed to assess the impact of the restrictions on the right to mental health, and the right to freedom of movement, indicate the common problems in the responses to COVID-19 and to the previous diseases’ outbreaks, and estimate if the cases of unjustified restrictions’ implementation or enforcement can be traced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work discloses the areas of a specific concern which need more precise regulation in general, as well as during the health emergencies, and suggests, inter alia, the ways of improvement of the preparedness and response strategies.