An Analysis of the Temporary and Lasting Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on International Human Rights
Joshua Grissom · 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has pervaded nearly every aspect of modern life. While many are aware of the direct impact the virus has had on their daily routines, the global crisis has also significantly altered the field of international human rights in a profound and lasting manner.1 Not only did the pandemic expose troubling trends of xenophobia and discrimination in developed nations, but it also forced sovereign states to adopt strict lockdown measures as a way of curtailing citizen movement and preventing the spread of the virus. However, these immediate effects were simply a handful of ways in which human rights were notably influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper analyzes prominent impacts of the virus in the field of international liberties, including public access to adequate health care, varying restrictions on the freedom of movement and the pandemic’s discriminatory impact on Asian populations. The subsequent sections also discuss educational disruptions for students across the globe, as well as the need for countries to invest in remote technology to ensure the administration of justice continues unimpeded.3 This paper attempts to offer suggestions on how individual nations can protect and ensure these human liberties, despite the ever-changing circumstances.