COVID-19 and human rights
The global COVID-19 crisis is exposing and exacerbating existing human rights violations and inequalities with a devastating effect on vulnerable groups and societies. The Danish Institute for Human Rights is working with our partners to counteract the human rights setbacks to ‘build back better’.
The COVID-19 pandemic works like a global magnifying glass that exposes already weak institutions, inequality, discrimination and lack in privacy protection in all corners of the world. To address these underlying challenges, the COVID-19 response must be balanced, inclusive and durable and in line with states' human rights obligations.
In our approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have four main focuses:
- Replace state of emergency with good governance based on accountable and transparent institutions
- Ensure legal protection and transparency during mass surveillance
- Regenerate sustainable growth and employment respecting human rights (incl. the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights)
- Replace exacerbation of discrimination with awareness of and safeguards for non-discrimination. Our focus is on economic and social rights and women and indigenous peoples.