Today [7 April] the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published its first bulletin on fundamental rights implication in the EU during the coronavirus pandemic. The Bulletin covers developments from 1 February to 20 March.
In certain circumstances international human rights law allows for some rights to be temporarily limited in times of crisis. To do so, derogations need to be prescribed by law and formally notified, proportionate to the goal pursued and absolutely necessary. Derogations also needs to be temporary and constantly reviewed and re-evaluated with the view of being lifted as soon as the situation allows so.
This first bulletin looks at measures EU Member States have put in place to protect the public health during the pandemic and how these relate to fundamental rights considerations. It focuses on four interrelated issues:
- Measures to contain COVID-19 and mitigate its impact in the areas of social life, education, work, and freedom of movement, as well as asylum and migration
- The impact of the virus and efforts to limit its spread on particular groups in society,
- Incidents of xenophobic and racist discrimination, including hate crime and
- The spread of disinformation concerning the outbreak and the implications of related containment measures on data protection and privacy
