Restrictions on Human Rights During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Western Balkans

This paper analyzes some human rights restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of 2020, the world faced a situation that caused a global imbalance at all levels. It was not just a public health crisis, but also a situation that brought about an economic, social, and humanitarian crisis. The pandemic, as an extraordinary situation, forced the limitation of some fundamental freedoms and rights, such as freedom of movement, assembly, religion, information, etc. which greatly affect the dignity of individuals. In the first part of the paper, we will extensively discuss when measures to limit human rights can be taken, and what the exceptional situations for their limitation are, specifically addressing the extraordinary situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the paper, we will raise some issues for discussion and conclusion, which should receive great attention from all national and international political, economic, and social actors.