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Human Rights Principles in Public Health Emergencies: From the Siracusa Principles to COVID-19 and Beyond

Bill of Health

Yet when COVID-19 – the greatest health emergency in a century – devastated the world, the Siracusa Principles seemed unequal to the task – too narrow, including with their remit limited to civil and political rights, not sufficiently specific, and above all, without sufficient accountability.

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COVID-19 Showcased Failed Global Cooperation

Bill of Health

By Kayum Ahmed, Julia Bleckner, and Kyle Knight In mid-May, the World Health Organization officially declared the “emergency” phase of the COVID-19 pandemic over. Public health emergencies aren’t entirely preventable. Solidarity operates at two intersecting levels.

COVID-19 299
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Conclusion to the Symposium: From Principles to Practice: Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

While receiving significant global traction and acceptance since their publication in 1985, the Siracusa Principles, the authors argue, proved to be simply “unequal to the task” of guiding States’ conduct in the context of COVID-19 because they are “unable to speak in any significant detail to the particular concerns of public health crises.”

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Non-State Actors and Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

By Rossella De Falco Strong, well-coordinated and resilient public health care services play a vital role in preventing and responding to public health crises. What are, however, the specific legal and ethical implications of involving private actors in health care vis-à-vis public health emergencies?

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Old Dogs and New Tricks: A Case for the Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights & Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

Despite these experiences, Kenya failed take a human rights-based approach to responding to COVID-19, as was also the case in many other countries. Deepening this challenge, the enactment of new legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic — and especially in its early stages — was near impossible.

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The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: Responding to Public Health Emergencies by Upholding Human Rights, Democracy, and the Rule of Law

Bill of Health

By Anita Gholami The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which brings together parliamentarians from 46 member States, has been a vigilant guardian of respect for the European Convention on Human Rights and other international standards throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Securing a Place for Children’s Rights in Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

By Sheila Varadan, Ton Liefaard, and Jaap Doek The Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies (Principles) make a significant contribution towards clarifying the scope of States’ legal obligations under international human rights law during public health emergencies.