04 Sep Human rights protection and response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Albania, as many countries worldwide in this time of pandemic, is facing a challenge in striking a fair balance between protecting health, minimising economic and social disruption, and respecting human rights. Restrictive measures inevitably encroached on human rights and fundamental freedoms, an integral and necessary part of a democratic society governed by the rule of law.
Learning from this experience, the Action “Supporting enforcement of the judicial decisions and facilitating the execution of ECtHR judgements in Albania” is supporting public authorities in ensuring further respect of human rights and rule of law in any protentional extraordinary circumstances that might occur such as natural disasters or pandemics. To help the authorities as well as legal professionals and practitioners, a Human Rights assessment of legislative and regulatory responses to the COVID-19 pandemic was developed in the framework of the project, which brings to attention key human rights considerations with regards to COVID-19 pandemic. The assessment provides key considerations in relation to addressing quarantine and restrictive measures and highlights the importance of integrating a human rights-based approach in response to extraordinary circumstances.
It aims at assisting the Albanian authorities to efficiently and timely enforce domestic judicial decisions and execute judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. Particular focus is given to cases concerning the applicants’ rights to peaceful possession of property.
Here you can find more about the action:
References from the Council of Europe