This chapter deals with the connection between global rights and global health, and casts a particular eye on global health emergencies, including the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. It focuses specifically on the effectiveness or otherwise of global responses to crises, and considers the disconnect that can exist between national and international action/advice. The chapter assesses the degree to which current legal instruments and the international organisations which support the application of a right to health have been successful in achieving their aims in this context. The concept of a right to health has roots in many ages, regions, and philosophies. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted shortly afterwards. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is also relevant, especially Article 6 – the right to life. The coronavirus pandemic is now travelling through towns, cities, countries, and continents at great speed and with calamitous effect on diverse populations.
Clayton; id_orcid 0000-0001-9856-7598 Ó Néill (Mon,) studied this question.