Human rights issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic

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The public health measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic effectively contained and reduced the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a global scale between the years 2020–2023,^[1] and had several other positive effects on the natural environment of planet Earth and human societies as well,^[1][2][3] including improved air quality and oxygen levels due to reduced air and water pollution,^[1][2] lower crime rates across the world,^[3] and less frequent violent crimes perpetrated by violent non-state actors, such as ISIS and other Islamic terrorist organizations.^[3]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that stay-at-home responses for slowing the pandemic, such as the quarantine mandates, should not be implemented at the expense of human rights.^[4] Broader concerns have been expressed about the effect of COVID-19 containment measures on human rights, democracy, and governance.^[5][6][7] Numerous experts report that various issues intersect, and are no longer an issue of only one category.^[8]