Committees

The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications

Inquiry

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has announced measures which aim to protect individuals’ right to life (Article 2 ECHR) and further steps will need to be taken over the coming days, weeks and months. Amongst other measures, it is expected that the Government will introduce emergency legislation on Thursday giving it new powers which are intended to help in containing and coping with the pandemic in the UK.

As this situation develops the UK Parliament’s Human Rights Committee will seek to examine the Government’s actions to ensure that its approach is compliant with human rights – not least the right to life (Article 2 ECHR). While it is likely that steps will need to be taken that interfere with human rights, for example the right to liberty (Article 5 ECHR) and the right to respect for family life (Article 8 ECHR), this must be done in a way that is proportionate.

The impact of these measures will be widely felt, and some groups will be affected more than others.

 

Reports, special reports and government responses

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Seventh Report: The Government’s response to COVID-19: human rights implications
Inquiry The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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HC 265 / HL 125
Report
Response to this report
The Government’s Response to COVID-19: Human Rights Implications
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Government Response

Oral evidence transcripts

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8 June 2020
Inquiry The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Witnesses Witnesses supported by Children Heard and Seen
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Oral Evidence
8 June 2020
Inquiry The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Witnesses Lucy Frazer QC MP (Minister of State at Ministry of Justice), Jo Farrar (Chief Executive Officer at HM Prison and Probation Service), and Naomi Mallick (Legal Director at Ministry of Justice)
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Oral Evidence
18 May 2020
Inquiry The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Oral Evidence

Written evidence

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COV0258 - The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Witnesses Larbi EL-Moradi
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Written Evidence
COV0155 - The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Witnesses National Autistic Society
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Written Evidence
COV0163 - The Government’s response to Covid-19: human rights implications
Witnesses York Human Rights City Network
Committees Human Rights (Joint Committee)
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Written Evidence

Other publications

Government Responses
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
24 published
Scrutiny evidence
Evidence received in the course of conducting legislative scrutiny.
2 published

Contact us

The Committee is unable to look into individual cases

  • Email: jchr@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 4710 (General enquiries) / 020 7219 8430 (Media enquiries)
  • Address: Joint Committee on Human Rights, Houses of Parliament. London. SW1A 0AA