SSN Commentary
Human Rights Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic, in Countries From Angola to the US to New Zealand
Policy field
Originally published as "Human Rights Declined During the COVID-19 Pandemic, in Countries From Angola to the US to New Zealand," The Conversation, April 20, 2022.
Human rights activists and international leaders first warned in April 2020 that countries could use the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to crack down on human rights.
Human rights refers to a wide range of political and social rights recognized by international law. It includes everything from people’s right to work and receive an education to people’s right to freely express their opinions and participate in politics.