Human Rights vs. Covid-19 Lockdown:
By Fred Felton | Apr 28, 2021
Are South Africans okay with having their human rights restricted during the Covid-19 lockdown?
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| Image: Pixabay |
Apparently so according to recent surveys conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)¹ and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
There does also appear to be abuse of human rights on a global scale while using Covid-19 as the scapegoat. This is according to a research article by Ben Odigbo, Felix Eze and Rose Odigbo.²
In it the authors go on to explain how certain countries have committed human rights violations and used Covid-19 rules as the excuse. As a result other human rights have also been abused and crimes against women have escalated.
The United Nations (UN) has warned that some countries are ignoring peoples’ human rights under the disguise of counteracting the coronavirus, and called this ‘’a human rights disaster’’(OHCHR 2020).³
Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that such countries should stop infringing on peoples’ basic rights in the implementation of these emergency measures.
A UN report gave mention of 15 countries where allegations of Covid-19 lockdown enforcement gave rise to human rights abuses. South Africa was listed as one of these 15 countries.
In South African there have been reports of shootings, beatings, teargassing, and water bombing people, sexual abuse and exploitation. There has also been reported gender-based violence during lockdown. Police have used rubber bullets, tear gas, water bombs and whips to ensure social distancing, especially amongst the poor in South Africa.
Wearing of masks in South Africa is now mandatory and anyone who does not wear one is liable for a fine or criminal offence. Certain people have even been arrested for not wearing masks. In certain places people have been arrested for walking on or near the beach during lockdown.
So are South Africans really okay with giving up their human rights if it means benefitting everyone due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Umhlanga Life took to the streets of Durban to find out and this is what we discovered:
We asked various residents of Durban if they felt that their human rights were being restricted by being forced to wear a mask when in public spaces.
‘’It’s difficult to make everyone happy especially during a state of emergency such as the Covid-19 lockdown. It’s better for everyone as a means to combat the virus. I don’t think it’s unreasonable,’’ remarked Ms Tembe, a Glenwood resident.
Ms Tembe also noted that gender-based violence has increased during the lockdown as most people are now restricted from movement and they cannot go to shelters during lockdown.
Other residents also felt the government was right in making you wear a mask.
‘’I think it’s right to wear the mask to protect all but not everyone is wearing it. I do think it’s not good to wear the mask all day. How do people breath like people who work,’’ said Addington Beach resident Cindy Polydorou.
‘’I think my human rights include being protected from this virus much as I hate my mask,’’ noted Carol De Wet of Umbilo.
It seems that most residents are quite happy to sacrifice certain human rights for the greater good of the country, especially in times such as this pandemic. Love them or hate them face masks will be with us for some time to come.
In South Africa your human rights are protected in the constitution.
South Africa has just celebrated Freedom Day and it is up to all of us to make sure our human rights are not being restricted in anyway.
If you feel your human rights are being abused you do have recourse and you can report such abuses to various places and institutions such as:
South African Human Rights Commission – www.sahrc.org.za
Lawyers for Human Rights – www.lhr.org.za
Journalists for Human Rights – www.jhr.ca
References:
¹ Bohler-Muller, N., Roberts, B., Davids, Y.D., Gordon, S. & Majikijela, Y. (2021) COVID-19 and human rights limitations: taking public opinion into account. (HSRC Policy Brief, March).
²Odigbo B, Eze F and Odigbo R. COVID-19 lockdown controls and human rights abuses: the social marketing implications [version 1; peer review: 1 approved, 1 approved with reservations] Emerald Open Research 2020, 2:45 https://doi.org/10.35241/emeraldopenres.13810.1
³https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25722
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: From the beautiful buildings of yesteryear, to Durban’s brand new architectural icon – Moses Mabhdia Stadium. Built for the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, the stadium was designed by German firm, GMP Architekten. Named for the former secretary general of the South African Communist Party, the stadium boasts state-of-the-art technology which maximizes light, protects spectators from wind, and still allows a free view outwards. Situated on a raised platform to enhance its visibility, the stadium can be seen from as far away as Ushaka Marine World. The iconic arch houses a skycar which gives unparalleled views of the city and coastline.
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