Analyzing WHO's Engagement with the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Its Dedication to Ensuring the Right to Healthcare abstract
In the realm of international human rights law, it is established that every individual possesses the entitlement to the highest attainable standard of health. Governments are obligated to employ all necessary measures to avert public health threats and provide medical care to those requiring it. Furthermore, human rights law underscores that during circumstances involving grave threats to public health and national emergencies that imperil the lives of a population, certain rights may be subject to reasonable restrictions, provided they are legally justified. These essential measures must be grounded in scientific evidence rather than arbitrary decisions, devoid of any discriminatory elements, time-limited, respectful of human dignity, subject to ongoing evaluation, and devised and executed in a manner that is proportionate.On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the
COVID-19 viral disease, initially identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, to have reached global pandemic status. Citing concerns over the "alarming levels of prevalence and severity," the WHO urged governments to swiftly and vigorously implement measures to curb the virus's transmission. The magnitude and gravity of the
COVID-19 pandemic undeniably qualify it as a public health threat that can warrant limitations on certain rights, such as those associated with quarantine and restrictions on freedom of movement. Simultaneously, conscientious consideration of human rights principles such as non-discrimination and key tenets like transparency and the preservation of human dignity can contribute to an effective response while constraining the harm it may generate. This study examines the World Health Organization's performance in addressing human rights concerns and accentuates the importance of the "Right to Healthcare."