COVID-19 and human rights
Understand how COVID-19 affects human rights in Australia. Access guidance, resources and articles on rights, freedoms and protections during the pandemic.
Summary
Human rights matter for everyone at all times, including in an emergency. Explore our reports and articles on human rights and the pandemic.
Reports
'Collateral Damage' Report Into Australia's COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Read Collateral Damage, a major report examining gaps in Australia's COVID-19 response and recommendations to protect human rights in future public health
'Mental health shapes my life': COVID-19 & kids' wellbeing (2022)
Discover findings on how COVID-19 disrupted children's mental health and wellbeing, with insights from young Australians about pandemic impacts.
Safeguarding children: A child rights impact assessment tool
Use this 18-question assessment tool to evaluate how new laws and policies affect the wellbeing of Australian children and families, and guide better
Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention (2021)
Examine COVID-19 transmission risks in immigration detention facilities and the human rights concerns for people held in confined settings during the pandemic.
The rights of people in health and disability care during COVID-19
Understand human rights protections for people in health and disability care settings during COVID-19, including rights to dignity, access to care and informed
Impacts of COVID-19 on children and young people who contact Kids Helpline (2020)
Discover how COVID-19 affected children and young people who contacted Kids Helpline in 2020, based on Commission research into pandemic impacts.
Articles
COVID report provides reality check on human rights during pandemic
Opinion piece | Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay Earlier this month the Australian Human Rights Commission released
Time for review on COVID-19 border and quarantine restrictions
Loss of freedoms and rights has harmed us
OPINION November 18, 2021
Learning from crisis
Six weeks ago I returned to my traditional homeland near Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia.
