COVID-19 lockdown controls and human rights abuses: the socioeconomic and social marketing implications

Abstract

Background: This work is a situation analysis of reported human rights abuses that have characterized the COVID-19 controls and lockdown in some countries of the world. This is as documented by reliable mass media sources, relevant international organizations and human rights non-governmental organizations between January 2020 to April 2020. Methods: A combined content analysis, critical analysis, and doctrinal method is applied in this study in line with the reproducible research process. It is a secondary-data-based situation analysis study, conducted through a qualitative research approach. Findings: The findings revealed among other things that: COVID-19 lockdowns and curfews’ enforcement by law enforcement officers contravened some peoples’ fundamental human rights within the first month. Security forces employed overt and immoderate forces to implement the orders. The lockdown and curfew enforcements were not significantly respectful of human life and human dignity. The COVID-19 emergency declarations in some countries were discriminatory against minorities and vulnerable groups in some countries. Research limitations/implications: This report is based on data from investigative journalism and opinions of the United Nations and international human rights organizations, and not on police investigations or reports. The implication of the study is that if social marketing orientations and risk communication and community engagement attitudes were given to the law enforcement officers implementing the COVID-19 lockdowns and or curfews, the human rights and humanitarian rights breaches witnessed would have been avoided or drastically minimized. Originality: The originality of this review is that it is the first to undertake a situation analysis of the COVID-19 lockdowns and curfews human rights abuses in some countries. The study portrayed the poor level of social marketing orientations and risk communication and community engagement attitudes amongst law enforcement officers, culminating in the frosty police-public relationships.

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“…SDG16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions : Global reports suggest that COVID-19 has accelerated human rights violations ( Aborisade, 2021 ; Heimer et al, 2020 ; Odigbo et al, 2021 ), injustice ( Bhaskar et al, 2020 ), interpersonal violence and sexual abuse ( Mazza et al, 2020 ), food insecurity, and social injustice ( Odunitan-Wayas et al, 2021 ). The pandemic has put enormous strain on the relationship between the state and citizens owing to the introduction of strict regulations (e.g., lockdowns, masks, and social distancing) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.…”

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“…This illegal erosion of citizens’ rights emboldened the government to exert unfair power on them, implying negative political consequences. There were numerous occasions of rising violence and conflicts between armed officials and citizens perceived to violate lockdown rules; for instance, just 2 weeks after the enforcement of lockdown in Nigeria, 18 people were killed by security forces in the country [ 38 ]. In addition, lockdowns enabled increased rates of domestic violence among intimate partners—with girls and women usually victims—which increased social inequalities.…”