The securitisation of COVID-19: human rights and public health impacts
The securitisation of COVID-19: human rights and public health impacts
To control the spread of COVID-19, many governments invoked emergency powers and expanded the role of law enforcement and surveillance. This approach exposed the population to health risks and human rights violations, with particularly dire impacts on vulnerable groups, and proved ineffective to confront the virus. Other punitive strategies, such as the war on drugs, have taught us how policies focused on criminalisation rather than health and support are abusive, discriminatory, and ineffective. Responses to public health emergencies should be centred around health and human rights and prioritise the health, social, and economic needs of all. To control the spread of COVID-19, many governments invoked emergency powers and expanded the role of law enforcement and surveillance. This approach exposed the population to health risks and human rights violations, with particularly dire impacts on vulnerable groups, and proved ineffective to confront the virus. Other punitive strategies, such as the war on drugs, have taught us how policies focused on criminalisation rather than health and support are abusive, discriminatory, and ineffective. Responses to public health emergencies should be centred around health and human rights and prioritise the health, social, and economic needs of all. (HRI – Harm Reduction International, UK, 12.11.2021, Video, 01:48)