Australia Urged to Prioritize Human Rights in Emergencies
A major new report about the COVID-19 pandemic by the Australian Human Rights Commission has highlighted how critical gaps in the emergency response could be improved upon in future crises.
The report, titled Collateral Damage, found that federal, state and territory governments did not adequately consider or protect people’s human rights when implementing pandemic response measures. It found Australians from all walks of life were adversely affected, with people from marginalised backgrounds or in at-risk situations seeing their harms compounded.
“The pandemic response saved lives, but it also came at a significant cost, with some Australians feeling they were overlooked in the nation’s push to contain COVID-19,” said Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, who co-authored the report.
“In our research, we heard devastating stories of severe economic hardship, families unable to say goodbye to loved ones, women trapped in violent households, and communities left isolated due to blanket policies that failed to consider local realities. These experiences should never be ignored or repeated.”
The report is centred on the personal stories of more than 5,000 Australians, following a national survey, community consultations and stories being shared through an online portal. It comes as Australia approaches the 5th anniversary of national lockdown restrictions in response to the pandemic.
The findings outline the human impact of pandemic response measures, including international and domestic border closures, lockdowns, school disruptions, quarantine, and healthcare restrictions.
Among the more disproportionate impacts on people include:
“It has been five years since the pandemic began, but the consequences of this life-altering time in history are still being felt today,” Commissioner Finlay said.
“This report shows that response measures do not operate in a vacuum. The full human impact needs to be understood so we can be better prepared when disaster strikes again, whether it be a pandemic, bushfire, flood or any other emergency.
“We are seeing this right now, as communities continue to navigate the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Its impacts, as well as those in previous natural disasters, will inform the next stage of our project, as we look to ensure all future emergency responses have human rights at their core.”
Recommendations
The report recommends all levels of government adopt an Emergency Response Framework, anchored by seven key principles:
“This isn’t about who is to blame, but how we can do better. We cannot wait for the next crisis to learn these lessons.” Commissioner Finlay said.
“We must rebuild trust, strike a balance between individual freedoms and public health, and place human rights at the heart of emergency planning.”
Access the report: Collateral Damage: What the untold stories from the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about human rights in Australia
Read a short summary
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/australia-must-learn-covid-19-response-and-prioritise-human-rights-future