Ensuring human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic and legal issues for Vietnam

Abstract

During the period from 2020 to 2023, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted people’s lives and placed many countries around the world in an unprecedented situation with many legal issues that need to be addressed. In the context of having to implement measures to deal with the pandemic, prioritising the right to health care and the right to life, many countries are forced to introduce measures that restrict some other human rights. By assessing the impact of COVID-19 on human rights, such as: the right to health care, the right to an adequate standard of living, freedom of movement, the right to education, freedom of expression, the right to privacy, the right to non- discrimination, the right to work, this article analyses the legal issues raised during the pandemic related to human rights restrictions and sanctions to handle violations of epidemic prevention and control, thereby draws lessons for Vietnam in law-making and enforcement to better prepare for similar situations that may occur in the future.