London, Routledge, 2021, 348 pages, £ 27.99 (Paperback)

For the last two years, no topic has been nearly as ubiquitous as the COVID-19 pandemic and all its repercussions. Nearly every aspect of our lives has been impacted by it in some way or other, inducing not only multifarious measures concerning our different ways of life, but also causing enormous human suffering. In order both to assess the first year of COVID-19 policy-making, and to provide a guideline from a human rights standpoint, Kjaerum, Davis and Lyons bring together international human rights scholars, focusing on the various aspects of the ongoing crisis, its interdependencies, and the necessary reactions from a human rights perspective.

The book is divided into three parts, each consisting of a varying number of contributions by international human rights experts. Part I concerns ‘Human rights during health crises’, while the second part covers ‘Vulnerability and inequality’. In the third part, ‘Cornerstones for social cohesion’ are addressed. Rounding up the three parts and providing several proposals for action, the editors present their conclusions in a closing chapter.

The first part of the book, ‘Human rights during health crises’, gives insights into previous pandemics and the corresponding historical approaches, as well as the diversity of human health policies concerning the ongoing crisis. Demonstrating the historical development, the author shows how past pandemics laid the groundwork for the recognition of health as a fundamental right in the World Health Organization’s Constitution. The neglect of this right, occurring especially oft en in populist responses to the pandemic, leads to prioritising the collective or privileged groups over one person. Human rights approaches to COVID-19, instead, recognise the equal value of individuals, and are, therefore, more democratic and evidence-based. Reflecting these aspects, the authors elaborate on the necessity for a human rights approach, in view of the adverse effects that can be triggered by a pandemic, for instance stigmatising infected people or groups unable to isolate themselves sufficiently. Therefore, it is of great importance to put a great effort into clear and understandable risk communication, allowing people to adequately form opinions on the matter.