In the name of protecting public health during this COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN governments are reportedly have imposed more restrictive measures in containing the effect of this unprecedented health crisis. Many human rights activists stated that governments have gone so far as to utilize the crisis to limit civil and democratic rights. What are the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on human rights in the Southeast Asian region, can we maintain the protection of “public health” and “human rights” to be upheld by the governments? Or given into consideration by looking at some other countries who are relatively successful in fighting the virus, shall we compromise a bit with more restrictive or more authoritarian measures then?

I explore those questions with Yuyun Wahyuningrum, Representative of Indonesia to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).