Write an article in 250 words on “COVID 19 Versus Humanity”
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It is now clear that states and others need to take preventive and mitigating measures urgently to contain the pandemic and these must entail global cooperation and coordination. Just as the health crisis response must be rooted in human rights law, so too must national and international responses to the drastic economic downturn.
In my capacity as United Nations Independent Expert on debt and human rights, on 15 April 2020 I provided urgent recommendations to governments and international financial institutions on specific ways to tackle the economic shock of the COVID-19 crisis through a range of policies that are consistent with human rights obligations.[1] In this Viewpoint I share my general reflections on whether a “saving the economy” approach should prevail over social and human rights-oriented strategies.
I have been concerned about some states’ failure to adequately respond to warnings to prepare for pandemics. The lack of effective response from a number of governments to protect people’s health through proven measures such as social distancing and quarantines to flatten the curve of the pandemic is also very concerning.[2] Arguing that the cure would be worse than the disease, some governments have opposed these measures to avoid an economic slowdown.
When the life and health of populations are at stake, business as usual must not go on. Governments must ensure that public health systems do not collapse, and that health policies and protections are not eroded, but rather they remain robust and capable of controlling the spread of the disease. When faced with making a decision about protecting lives, or protecting the economy, human rights must inform the debate.
Some governments appear to be promoting an approach of “saving the economy” at any cost, including through risking the health and lives of the majority of their populations. This economy centric approach is often accompanied by a lack of enthusiasm to reduce inequalities, or to ensure the realization of economic and social rights, or acknowledge and address the impacts of pollution and climate change on health. Therefore, “saving the economy” means prioritising the interests of a powerful elite. Such a reductionist view of the economy cannot operate as a trump, especially as the broad economy must allow for the majority of people to have their economic and social rights realized.
In this sense, it is necessary to distinguish big corporations’ claims of entitlement to profits from the needs of workers earning a daily livelihood. While it is important to minimize the social and economic impact of the economic recession, supporting employment through ensuring the survival of the business sector as a whole is only one way of doing so. Alternatives could include targeted, temporary, and compulsory payment holidays from taxes, rent and mortgages, and other debts. There are other types of relief packages to consider as well. An exclusive focus on employment support can result in those employed in the informal sector, or on short-term contracts, being overlooked. It is of the utmost importance that initiatives focusing on job losses and employment support, do so from a human rights perspective.