The Threat of the COVID-19 Pandemic to Human Rights: Jordan as a Model

Although the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan was largely contained, the response of the Jordanian government faced criticism from both local and international organizations due to undermining rights guaranteed under international law and covenants. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, weaknesses in the Jordanian labor market and a lack of public safety tools and requirements relating to social protection among labor categories were identified. The pandemic also became an excuse for restricting media freedom and expression. The COVID-19 means of mitigation undertaken by the Jordanian government to ease the impact on citizens and affected economic sectors failed due to a lack of political reform and the weak economic and social structures in place before the crisis. The Jordanian government should now reconsider its responses in order to be reasonable, proportionate, coordinated, and human rights-based. The Minnesota Human Rights Model should be adopted in this process, given the established success of the model in developing solutions to mitigate multifaceted human rights infringements such as discrimination and the defilement of rights. In addition, it is necessary to reconsider the role of social work and enhance the practice of this to ensure a more closely involved and effective response to the pandemic.