Coronavirus & Civic Space
The coronavirus is a significant threat to public health; it does not need to be a significant threat to civic freedom.
Governments can use a crisis as a pretext to infringe rights. As UN Special Rapporteur Fionnuala Ní Aoláin explains, “states and security sector institutions will find emergency powers attractive because they offer shortcuts,” and that such powers will, therefore, tend to “persist and become permanent.”
In response to the pandemic, governments around the world have acted with significant implications for fundamental freedoms and civic space. During this time, we must remember that responses to public health threats are stronger and more effective when they respect human rights. This page presents key resources and information on how international law provides a framework to uphold human rights during crisis response.
The COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker monitors government responses to the pandemic that affects civic freedoms and human rights, focusing on emergency laws. The tracker is a collaborative effort by the ICNL, ECNL, and our global network of partners, with generous research support from the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Fionnuala D. Ní Aoláin. Explore the tracker here.
Event: Civic Space after COVID
On May 24, 2021, The International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency hosted a high-level virtual conversation on emergency measures, fundamental freedoms, and revitalizing civic space in the wake of COVID-19. The 2-hour interactive session brought together experts from civil society, governments, international organizations, and more to discuss practical ways these sectors and allies can work together to ensure emergency measures are extinguished as soon as possible. Simultaneous interpretation was provided in Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Other Notable COVID-19 Trackers
Privacy International: Tracking the Global Response to COVID-19
This resource by Privacy International collects news updates related to privacy and surveillance measures that have been adopted in response to the pandemic.
Global overview of COVID-19: Impact on elections
This International IDEA tracker provides a list of election schedules and plans, as reported by governments, electoral management bodies, and news media.
RTI COVID-19 Tracker
RTI Rating’s tracker compiles legal measures that alter or suspend the right to information (RTI) obligations.
Reports & Analyses
National Relief Funds in Asia During COVID-19
This paper explores government-run relief funds established for the purpose of COVID-19 pandemic response, and how these funds impacted civil society in countries in Asia.
DOWNLOAD HEREPandemic Governance & Civic Freedoms
Aa few Asian nations have garnered international recognition for effectively curbing the virus while generally safeguarding civic freedoms. Japan stands out for adeptly utilizing its legal framework without compromising fundamental rights.
DOWNLOAD HERETop Trends: COVID-19 and Civic Space
Many of the measures adopted in response to the pandemic restrict fundamental rights. This ICNL piece summarizes the top 9 trends affecting civic space, based on an analysis of the COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker data.
READ HEREPositive Government Responses to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic does not have to be a crisis for human rights. This ICNL briefer shares positive practices that governments should follow, along with selected examples of these practices.
READ HEREPreserving Human Rights During a Pandemic
Published in Just Security, this article by ICNL provides guidance on how states can respond to the coronavirus pandemic in an effective, rights-respecting manner.
READ THE ARTICLE HEREHuman Rights Watch Review of Free Speech During COVID-19
This Human Rights Watch report determined unlawful interference with free speech as one of the most common forms of government overreach during the Covid-19 pandemic and makes recommendations to governments and international organizations on how to respond and decrease such practices.
READ THE FULL PIECE HERERegional Resources
Asia and the Pacific
This page provides information on Asian and Pacific government responses to the coronavirus, using information from the ICNL-ECNL COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker.
EXPLORE HERELatin America and the Caribbean
ICNL convened regional virtual round tables in April and December of 2020 for civil society partners to discuss civic freedoms and the coronavirus. The meetings resulted in a write-up, available in both English and Spanish.
READ THE FULL WRITE-UP HEREMiddle East and North Africa
This page provides information on Middle Eastern and North African government responses to the coronavirus, using information from the ICNL-ECNL COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker.
EXPLORE HERESub-Saharan Africa
This page provides information on African government responses to the coronavirus, using information from the ICNL-ECNL COVID-19 Civic Freedom Tracker.
EXPLORE HEREDigital Technology
Policy Snapshot: Democratic Responses to the Pandemic & Digital Rights
This analysis, from Stanford’s Global Digital Policy Incubator, uses a human rights lens to examine democratic responses to COVID-19 and their impact on digital rights.
DOWNLOAD THE ANALYSIS HERECOVID-19: The Surveillance Pandemic
Some governments have incorporated surveillance technology into their efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19. While the use of all the tools at hand is understandable, emergencies do not obviate states’ obligations to consider the broader societal and human rights effects of these measures.
READ THE FULL PIECE HEREWhy We Need to Protect the Human Right to Assemble and Act Online
This ECNL blog, by Senior Legal Advisor Marta Achler, discusses why the internet and the online spaces are a ‘lifeline’ for expression and assembly during the coronavirus pandemic.
READ ECNL'S BLOG HERERecommendations on privacy and data protection in the fight against COVID-19
Access Now’s recommendations focus on three categories of measures seen around the world: collection and use of health data, tracking and geolocation, and public-private partnerships.
DOWNLOAD HEREMisinformation and the Coronavirus
This ARTICLE 19 briefing discusses how states, media, and social media companies can help to combat the coronavirus by committing to transparency, tackling misinformation, and promoting authoritative health advice. It is available in English, Arabic, Farsi, and French.
DOWNLOAD THE BRIEFING HERECOVID-19, Information Problems, and Digital Surveillance
In this piece for the Center for Global Development, ICNL Advisory Council Member Michael Pisa discusses how to limit the risk that digital tools to monitor the spread of coronavirus could be used for other surveillance purposes after the health crisis subsides.
READ THE FULL PIECE HEREProtecting Civil Liberties During a Public Health Crisis
This Electronic Frontier Foundation piece outlines basic principles that should be taken into consideration while conducting any data collection and digital monitoring of potential carriers of COVID-19.
DOWNLOAD HERECOVID-19: Use of Digital Surveillance Technologies must be Human Rights Compliant
This International Commission of Jurists joint statement urges states to ensure that any use of digital technologies to track and monitor individuals and populations as part of measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic is fully human rights compliant.
DOWNLOAD THE BRIEFING HEREUN & Multilateral Resources
UN Expert Statements
UN experts warn of closing digital space amid COVID-19 pandemic, UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (July 30, 2020)
Statment on COVID-19 Emergency Derogations, UN Human Rights Committee Statement (April 30, 2020)
State responses to Covid 19 threat should not halt freedoms of assembly and association, UNSR Clément Voule (April 14, 2020)
UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies call for human rights approach in fighting COVID-19 (March 24, 2020)
COVID-19: States should not abuse emergency measures to suppress human rights (March 16, 2020)
Multilateral Statements on COVID-19
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Resolution (April 10, 2020, Spanish Only)
COVID-19 and Measures to Combat Illicit Financing, Statement by the FATF President (April 1, 2020)
Advisory Opinion on COVID-19 and Elections in Africa, African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights (2020)
UNSR Report: Disease Pandemics and the Freedom of Opinion and Expression
In this report, the UNSR on Freedom of Expression discusses how some efforts to combat the pandemic may be failing to meet international standards. The report also explains access to information, independent media, and other free expression rights are critical to meeting the challenges of the pandemic.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERESafeguarding Freedom of Assembly and Association during a Public Health Crisis
UNSR Clément Voule issued ten key principles to guide states’ response to a public health crisis. A checklist and survey accompany these principles to assess the implementation by government authorities and other key actors.
EXPLORE FURTHEROpen Response, Open Recovery
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) has put together COVID-19 resource hub and open forum for partners to share the resources they are creating and curating.
EXPLORE OGP'S RESOURCE HEREToolkit for Respecting Democracy during COVID-19
This toolkit by the Council of Europe provides information on respecting democracy, rule of law, and human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKITAll Coronavirus Response Related Resources
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