The Protection of Human Rights in Times of Public Emergencies: An Analysis of Ethiopian Covid-19 Response
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Date
2001-09
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Addis Ababa,University
Abstract
Covid-19 pandemic has presented a practical challenge, resulting in human rights violations and affecting society's life around the globe and Ethiopia is not an exception to this. To combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ethiopian government declared a national state of emergency. The measures have both negative and positive impacts on the protection of human rights. In Addis Ababa, there are some positive efforts made by the government to protect the people from the pandemic and fulfil their right to health. It provides the public with protective and sanitary equipment, raises awareness about the pandemic, and provides food, and shelter for the needy particularly in the early stages of the pandemic. However, some of the measures taken are not consistent with human rights principles. As a result, during the implementation of the measures, people were subjected to various forms of harassment by law enforcement agents. People were also denied the right to seek redress in a court of law; their movement and freedom of assembly and expression were severely restricted; and prisoners were denied visitation and detained for long periods of time without being charged or granted bail. Domestic violence and discrimination against women also increased. This paper analysed critical human rights concerns arising from the measures taken by Ethiopia to respond to the Covid -19 pandemic by touching the State of Emergency Proclamation, Regulation, post-state of the emergency directive and the practice. The paper argues that the Ethiopian Government disregards some human rights standards in responding to the pandemic. In contrast, the measures resulted in the violation of different human rights. The state should follow a human rights based approach in dealing with pandemics such as covid-19.