We could say human rights are freedoms governments entitle their citizens. For if they did not, they could not exist in practical terms. While responsibilities, on the other hand are what those citizens owe their societies in return. We have a right to drive our autos on public roads, but we also have a responsibility not to endanger people. Let’s consider our rights versus responsibilities in the pandemic.
There Are Two Sides to This Equation Needing Balance
Eleanor Roosevelt believed human rights begin at home according to Vision.Org. She told UN Commission on Human Rights in 1948 ‘They are the world of the individual person. In their household, the neighborhood they live in, the school or college they attend, the factory, farm, or office where they work.’
However, Vision.Org cautions against rights that have adverse consequences for fellow citizens. For example, Western law has become predatory, they say. And, they add, rampant labor rights in some societies ‘are anything but an undisputed victory for the community at large.’ Is an obsession with rights creating a better society for us, they ask?
Vaccine Rights Versus Responsibilities in the COVID Pandemic
We have a right to own our bodies, and with few exceptions this is protected under Western law. Therefore, we have freedom to refuse personal medical treatment, although we generally do not have a right to end our own lives. We also conversely have a right to medical treatment to keep us in good health.
Some protesters believe they have a right to refuse COVID-19 vaccine, and roam free even if infected. But surely, they also have a responsibility not to put their fellow citizens at risk. Do our responsibilities versus human rights not include taking precautions to protect each other?
This tension may play out against the backdrop of vaccine certificates and mandates. As the majority who had their shots demand their right to be safe from breakthrough infections. Could governments perhaps someday say you have a right to refuse vaccination. But you also have a responsibility to stay away from public space if you do.
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Preview Image: Anti-Lockdown Protest March
