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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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Personal Crusades for Public Health

Bill of Health

By Katherine Macfarlane Public health in the U.S. This essay describes the cost of casting aside what is best for the public’s health in favor of individual choice, especially to those who are high-risk for serious illness or death from COVID-19. In other words, public health is a group project.

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Reviewing Solidarity in the Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies

Bill of Health

By Eduardo Arenas Catalán The Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights and Public Health Emergencies (the Principles), entail a notable attempt to consolidate lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The critical notion of shared but differentiated responsibilities is thus strengthened within global public health.

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Public Health Law’s Future Begins in the Classroom

Bill of Health

By Taleed El-Sabawi The use of emergency public health powers by state and local governments during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic led to intense public criticism followed by legislative attempts (include some successes) to strip state executives of this authority. What does the future hold?

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A Categorical No to Categorical Accommodation Denials Related to COVID-19?

Bill of Health

Remote accommodations were granted freely during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2021, the in-person aspect of teaching and learning was suddenly deemed essential, and at many institutions, remote classes came to an end. That same medication rendered him high-risk for severe illness or death from COVID-19.

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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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Reclaiming Global Public Health

Bill of Health

By December 2020, the world had astonishingly powerful tools against COVID-19. New mRNA vaccines, underpinned by decades of public investment , had been authorized by global regulators. The answer to one of the most important public health questions of our time — who gets access to vaccines? — By Zain Rizvi.