In the face of a global crisis, research regarding Covid-19 and its effects on humans is being carried out all over the world at a rapid pace. The virus does not just affect the human body, but also our way of life way of life and our rights and freedoms. Therefore, RWI recognised a need to compile an overview of the research that is being done on the nexus of human rights and Covid-19. Below we present a bibliography centred around the human rights aspect of the Covid-19 crisis.
It’s a redefining moment in history. And human rights always changed in or after periods of crisis – where do we go this time?
Morten Kjaerum, Director
This bibliography contains: academic articles touching on the human rights dimension of the crisis; calls for papers on the Covid-19 crisis with relevance to human rights issues; and other relevant sources regarding pandemics and human rights.
Some articles touching upon the human rights dimensions of the Covid-19 crisis
Abazi, V. (2020). Truth Distancing? Whistleblowing as Remedy to Censorship during COVID-19. European Journal of Risk Regulation, Volume 11(2), pp. 375–381.
Amadasun, S. (2020). COVID-19 palaver: Ending rights violations of vulnerable groups in Africa. World Development.
Carrieri, D., Peccatori, F.A., and Boniolo, G. (2020). COVID-19: A Plea to Protect the Older Population. International Journal for Equity in Health, Volume 19(1), pp. 1–4.
Chimowa, T., Hall, S., and O’Hare, B. (2020). Public Money Creation to Maintain Fundamental Human Rights during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health and Human Rights, Volume 22(1), 395–398.
Coco, A., De Souza Dias, T. (2020). Prevent, Respond, Cooperate States’ Due Diligence Duties vis-à-vis the covid-19 Pandemic. Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies Volume 1(19).
De Falco, R. (2020). Fiscal Policy and Economic Pluralism: Building Inclusive Recovery after COVID-19. Peace Human Rights Governance, Volume 4(2), pp. 216–246.
Duminică, R. (2020). Some reflections about the activation of art. 15 of the European Convention on Human Rights by Romania in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Law & Administrative Sciences, Volume 13, pp. 78–88.
Fleetwood, J. (2020). Social Justice, Food Loss, and the Sustainable Development Goals in the Era of COVID-19. Sustainability, 12(12)
Hostmaelingen, N., Bentzen, H.B. (2020). How to operationalise human rights for COVID-19 measures. BMJ global health, 5:e003048
Joseph, S., (2020). COVID 19 and Human Rights: Past, Present and Future. Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies, Forthcoming; Griffith University Law School Research Paper No. pp. 20–23.
Klabbers, J. (2020). The Second Most Difficult Job in the World. Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies, pp. 1–12.
Kolodziejczyk, M. (2020). Technology in the Service of Coronavirus Containment: Potential Threats to Human Rights Protection, Journal of International Relations, Volume 18(2), pp. 156–181.
Kużelewska, E., Tomaszuk, M. (2020). European Human Rights Dimension of the Online Access to Cultural Heritage in Times of the COVID-19 Outbreak. International Journal for the Semiotics of Law.
Liu, H., Lauta, K., and Maas, M. (2020). Apocalypse Now? Initial Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic for the Governance of Existential and Global Catastrophic Risks, Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies, pp. 1–16.
Peisah, C., Byrnes, A., Doron, I.I., Dark, M., and Quinn, G. (2020). Advocacy for the Human Rights of Older People in the COVID Pandemic and beyond: A Call to Mental Health Professionals. International Psychogeriatrics, pp. 1–6.
Persaud, R. B., Yoder, J. (2020). Human right – which human; what rights? Biopolitics and bare life in migration and covid-19. Journal of Diplomacy & International Relations, Volume 21(2), pp. 62–76.
Rabbani, A., Banerjee Saxena, S. and Islam, F. (2020). Research Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Lives of Workers in the Bangladesh Garment Industry. Chowdhury Center & BRAC.
Spadaro, A. (2020). COVID-19: Testing the Limits of Human Rights. European Journal of Risk Regulation, Volume 11(2), pp. 317–325.
Todd-Gher, J., Shah, P.K. (2020). Abortion in the context of COVID-19: a human rights imperative. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, Volume 28(1).
Wannamakok, W., Sissokho, O., & Gates, T. G. (2020). Human rights and education for Gambian young women during COVID-19: Recommendations for social policy and practice. International Social Work.
Wiratraman, H. P. (2020). Does Indonesian Covid-19 emergency law secure rule of law and human rights? Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights, Volume 4(1), pp. 306–334
Yoder, J. (2020). Human Right–Which Human; What Rights? Biopolitics and Bare Life in Migration and Covid-19. Seton Hall Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations, 21(2), 62-76.
Other resources of interest
Danish Institute for Human Rights. (2020) Probing Paper: Covid-19 Response Must Build on Human Rights and SDGs
Dem-Dec upholds a curated list of emerging academic research on the impacts of Covid-19 on democracy, see their website
ACCORD provides an overview of arising conflicts and human rights violations as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, see their website
Human Rights Watch provides a detailed overview of the Human Rights Dimensions of Covid-19 Response, see their website
The European Union agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) publishes regular reports about the fundamental rights impact of Covid-19, see their bulletin
CIVICUS provides an overview of the impact of Covid-19 on civic spaces, see their website
The UNDP tracks the global gender response to Covid-19, see their tracker here
The International center for not for-profit law has a dedicated page to track the impact of Covid-19 on civic space, see their website
The Global State of Democracy initiative tracks the impact of Covid-19 on democracies and human rights, see their tracker here
Calls for papers on the Covid-19 crisis with relevance to human rights issues
“Call for papers – Special Issue on Human Rights Protection in Epidemic Situation” for the Cross-Cultural Human Rights Review.
“Human rights in healthcare during COVID-19 and other pandemics”, call for papers for the International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare.
Call for Papers Related to COVID-19 for the Journal of Human Rights and Social Work.
Call for short essays and full papers on the COVID-19 pandemic and global crisis (including human rights and vulnerable groups) for International Social Work.
“Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Era of Covid-19” call for papers for Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters.
“Call for Papers: COVID-19: Lessons for and from Vulnerability Theory, Special Issue” for International Journal of Discrimination and the Law.
“COVID-19 and Health Inequalities: Lessons for Pandemic Disasters Yet to Come” call for papers for Sociological Spectrum.
Other Sources Relevant to Pandemics and Human Rights
Doyal, L., and Doyal, L. (2013). Living with HIV and Dying with AIDS – Diversity, Inequality and Human Rights in the Global Pandemic, Ashgate Publishing.
Novogrodsky, N. (2009). Duty of Treatment Human Rights and the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.” Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal, Volume 12(1), pp. 1–61.
Pahlman, I., Tohmo, H., and Gylling, H. (2010). Pandemic Influenza: Human Rights, Ethics and Duty to Treat. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, Volume 54(1), pp. 9–15.
Walker, E. M. (2007). The HIV/AIDS Pandemic and Human Rights: A Continuum Approach. Florida Journal of International Law, Volume 19(2), pp. 335–420.
Stone, L., and Gostin, L.O. (2004). Using Human Rights to Combat the HIV/AIDS Pandemic. Human Rights, Volume 31(4), pp. 2–22.
Browne-Marshall, G. J. (2004). America’s Epidemic – HIV/AIDS and People of Color. Human Rights, Volume 31(4), pp. 15–23.
Shapiro, R.S., and Stein, R.E. (2004). Ethical and Legal Issues in AIDS Vaccine Trials. Human Rights, Volume 31(4), pp. 20–25.
Rasanathan, J. K., MacCarthy, S., Diniz, D., Torreele, E., and Gruskin, S. (2017). Engaging Human Rights in the Response to the Evolving Zika Virus Epidemic. American Journal of Public Health, Volume 107(4), pp. 525–531.
Danziger, R. (1996). An Epidemic Like Any Other? Rights and Responsibilities in HIV Prevention. BMJ: British Medical Journal, Volume 312, pp. 1083–1084
Cameron, E. (2006). Legal and Human Rights Responses to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. Stellenbosch Law Review, Volume 17(1), pp. 47–90.
Fitzpatrick, J. (2020). Human Rights in Crisis: The International System for Protecting Rights During States of Emergency. University of Pennsylvania Press.
-This bibliography will be updated on a running basis-