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.

Face masks are in the news. The CDC now recommends that Americans wear face masks to reduce transmission of COVID-19, and some localities are mandating wearing them for certain activities, such as entering a grocery store. Yet, at least 18 states and Washington DC have laws that could be used to penalize those who wear face masks.

PUBLISHED: APRIL 2020 This April 2020 joint declaration by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation […]

This database tracks case law, constitutions, and international instruments from around the world that deal with the Right to Health. It is maintained by the Lawyers Collective, an India-based NGO, and the O’Neil Institute at Georgetown Law.

The United States is in the midst of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. All 50 states, as well as the federal government, have now declared emergencies and issued a range of executive orders to combat the spread of the virus. While COVID-19 is a serious threat to public health, measures to address it should not become a serious threat to civil liberties. Emergency

The COVID-19 response is currently an all-consuming effort for governments and people in countries around the world. In this time of urgency, ICNL and ECNL offer a quick guide for authorities striving to protect lives in line with their duty to uphold human rights and protect human dignity, based on international human rights obligations.

Amnesty International’s preliminary observation report examines the human rights concerns and challenges that often emerge in epidemic responses, with specific reference to COVID-19. It summarizes states’ human rights obligations and the key human rights laws, standards, and principles that must be reflected in the responses.

This is a repository of UN and regional materials relating to the right to peaceful assembly. The collection includes views, concluding observations, and lists of issues from the UN Human Rights Committee and other UN treaty bodies, along with regional standards, recommendations, and jurisprudence. It aims to support efforts to develop international standards regarding this fundamental freedom and support organizations to advocate for a better legal environment.

Resources for Civil Society PUBLISHED: MARCH 2020 This page, set up by CIVICUS, aims to connect and inform the CIVICUS alliance and civil society during […]

In an article for Just Security, ICNL President Douglas Rutzen and Legal Advisor Nikhil Dutta discuss government overreach during pandemics and list recommendations on how states can promote rights-respecting governmental measures during a public health emergency.