EDITORIAL - Human rights in COVID recovery

From the lockdowns to contain virus transmission to the accessibility of COVID vaccines, the coronavirus pandemic has highlighted inequalities around the world. Physical distancing is a grueling challenge in cramped informal settlements, and regular handwashing is a luxury for those without clean water piped into their homes.

Now, with the world’s first widely tested, science-backed and independently reviewed COVID vaccine being rolled out by its maker, US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, developing countries can only wait near the end of the line for their turn to have access to the jabs. Wealthy countries have cornered the bulk of the first batches of the vaccines produced by Pfizer and the other top pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms such as Moderna and AstraZeneca.

Yesterday, as the country joined the international community in the annual observance of Human Rights Day, members of the National Capital Region Police Office were undergoing arnis training at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig using rattan canes or yantok. The canes will be used – defensively, the government has stressed – to enforce physical distancing amid the surge of crowds especially in commercial districts this Christmas.

It’s doubtful that the yantok will be used to break up the mañanitas or birthday serenades of VIP officials. On Dec. 10, Human Rights Day, the United Nations reminded the world that giving attention to human rights will lead to a better recovery from the pandemic.

Because of the issues that have emerged amid the COVID lockdowns, the United Nations wants to highlight the theme: “recover better – stand up for your human rights.” The idea is that if there is such a thing as building back better after natural disasters, it is possible to recover better, in a sustainable way, from this crippling pandemic. And upholding human rights is at the heart of such a recovery.