Reflections on COVID-19 and human rights :: Mmegi Online

Respect of human rights, such as human dignity, freedom of expression, the right to food, shelter, water and access to an independent, competent and impartial courts lie at the centre of an effective response to COVID-19, just as it does to HIV/AIDS and other life threatening health conditions.

In my capacity as co-chair of the African Think Tank on HIV, Health and Social Justice, convened by UNAIDS and as President of Africa Judges Forum on HIV, TB and Human Rights, convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), I have come to appreciate the centrality of human rights in dealing with health disasters, and the role of an informed judiciary in addressing the human rights challenges arising from such pandemics.

I have learnt that it is in times of crisis that rights matter most, especially the rights of the most marginalised and vulnerable sections of our population – the ordinary workers, women, children, the disabled, prisoners, the hungry and powerless. Our courts are required by these extraordinary circumstances to be on guard and super vigilant to ensure that the rights of the people are not violated in a manner that is not justifiable in a democratic society.

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