COVID-19

The spread of COVID-19 has continued to be relentless and its impacts exponential. Health experts are still grappling with slowing the pandemic’s spread and preventing re-emergence, while the production of a vaccine took necessary but costly time to be developed. Healthcare systems have been overrun, workplaces closed en masse and slow to re-open, and national economies upended. 

The human rights consequences are potentially limitless, including unprecedented numbers of job losses, severe threats to the health of workers, communities without adequate defenses, customers facing suddenly unaffordable expenses, and concerns growing over protection of civil liberties. Through deep dive research and convening diverse conversations, IHRB examines how should business respond – together and with other stakeholders.

In a deep dive report and webinar series during the immediate response in 2020, IHRB examined the responsibilities of companies for the human rights of employees and affected communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to reflect on the human rights implications of the pandemic across our programmes and in our regular commentaries, podcasts, and special reports.