Legal Basis for Introducing Restrictions on Human Rights and Freedoms during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Karol Dobrzeniecki

Faculty of Law and Administration, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6364-9793

Bogusław Przywora

Faculty of Law and Economy, Jan Długosz University , Poland
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-3971


Abstract

In this article, we attempt to present the legal grounds for introducing restrictions on human rights during the COVID-19 pandemic from a comparative legal perspective. We refer to the findings of a research project completed in 2020, trying to synthesize them and confront them with existing theoretical models. We strive to capture general patterns in the legal basis for states’ actions in response to global threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparative legal research contributes to the creation of universal solutions, which, taking into account the specificity of the system, can then be applied in local conditions.

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic, states of emergency, restriction of human rights and freedoms

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Published
2021-08-21


Dobrzeniecki, K., & Przywora, B. (2021). Legal Basis for Introducing Restrictions on Human Rights and Freedoms during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Review of European and Comparative Law, 46(3), 43–65. https://doi.org/10.31743/recl.12439

Karol Dobrzeniecki  dobrzeniec@wp.pl
Faculty of Law and Administration, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun

Dr. habil. Karol Dobrzeniecki, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and Administration, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun; correspondence address: ul. Bojarskiego 3, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; e-mail: karol.dobrzeniecki@umk.pl; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6364-9793.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6364-9793
Bogusław Przywora 
Faculty of Law and Economy, Jan Długosz University

Dr. habil. Bogusław Przywora, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and Economy, Jan Długosz University; correspondence address: ul. Zbierskiego 2/4, 42-200 Częstochowa, Poland; e-mail: b.przywora@ujd.edu.pl; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-3971.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8809-3971