Commissioner for Human Rights

COVID-19 and Human Rights

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed extraordinary strain on Council of Europe member states. In their effort to protect the right to health and uphold the functioning of their health care systems, they had to impose strict virus containment measures, from full and partial lockdowns to school closures and significant limitations of cultural activities and public life. COVID-19 has thus had dramatic implications for the exercise of human rights in Europe, notably for the freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and the rights to education and private and family life.

The Commissioner has stressed that member states must ensure equal access to essential medical treatment, including testing and vaccines, for all, leaving no one behind and paying particular attention to the special needs of persons belonging to vulnerable groups, such as older persons, persons with disabilities, and persons living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. She has also urged governments to alleviate the enormous pressure faced by health and care professionals, the majority of whom are women, and called for transparency and inclusivity in health communication to promote trust and support for necessary government measures in the population.

Restrictive measures intended to protect public health can be temporarily justified under the condition that they are necessary, effective and proportionate. The proportionality of virus containment measures, such as lockdowns or vaccination mandates,  depends on the severity of the human rights restriction in question and the specific context in the country. It should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, and ultimately by the courts, whether they are necessary, effective and the least restrictive means to achieve the desired aim of limiting hospitalisations, grave illness, and death.