What is Social Responsibility in a Pandemic?

This is a question that many people have asked in recent months. Social responsibility in a pandemic is defined as the degree to which an entity accepts and fulfills responsibilities towards its environment and local, national, and international communities. Pandemics or global epidemics can both cause social unrest and can even be deadly. From this perspective, it seems like the individual has the potential to do more than any one country could when faced with such a crisis.

However, does this mean social responsibility becomes personified? How do we define this? This article will explore the definition of social responsibility in a pandemic. Through different perspectives, such as the politicization of genocide. This will be done in an attempt to explain why social responsibility is important in pandemics.

Social Obligations in Pandemic

The concept of social obligations in pandemic cannot be said to be a controversial one. In almost every country, there is a code of conduct. That states that individuals should do more than their own personal safety. This is when faced with a crisis or when facing any situation that could result in violence. This can be found in a number of different places. This is not only a common complaint but also an accepted one. However, there are often debates on the extent to which individuals are held to these taxations. This is particularly the case in an emergency situation.

The problem, however, is that in many situations, this seems to be more regulated towards the benefit of the nation. Rather than that of the individual. The purpose of this post will be to explore how social responsibility can go into crisis situations. That requires individuals rather than nations or countries to act on their behalf.

Social Responsibility in Pandemics

This focus on “social responsibility” in pandemics faces particular challenges. Because it does not offer people any form of reassurance on how they should behave. Especially when faced with such situations. The concept of social responsibility in a pandemic is one that is not only protected by law but also by ethics. This means it is usually considered to be an individual’s moral obligation to assist others.

The problems that are often faced with this concept

The first problem is that it can be difficult to know what assistance needs to be given; the second one is the problem of access. And lastly, there are also questions about what actions can be considered as “assistance.” For example, in some situations, it may not be safe for people to help others.

However, there are newer perspectives of social responsibility in pandemics according to the new World Health Organization (WHO) outbreak response framework (ERF). The new framework is aimed at strengthening community engagement in an effort to improve preparedness and response to health emergencies. This means that governments need to ensure that they are able to identify people who can be held responsible for specific public health functions. Like surveillance and contact tracing. This means that the idea of social responsibility extends beyond what was once considered to be voluntary action. But now includes a duty on behalf of national authorities. It does not mean that this replaces individual duty but simply adds to it.

Although pandemics are problems faced by many countries, they are not handled in the same way. This happens because of the concept of politicization. It is seen that governments tend to get more involved in an area. Especially when there has been an immediate effect on their own population. This means that NGOs, charities, and other organizations would be expected to take care of this task before governments could get involved. However, this is not always the case. Even in a pandemic situation, every person has human rights.

What are Human Rights?

A human right is a moral principle that protects an individual or group of people from being violated or treated unfairly due to their membership in a certain social category. Such as race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion, and political belief. Human rights talk about dignity and respect for the individual. So by upholding these rights, we end up protecting the most important thing. The power of each and every person to live freely.

Defining the human right to dignity is not as easy as it seems. But it is a very important right that enables individuals to assert their own identity, achieve their potential, enjoy protection from abuse by others, make choices without being manipulated or coerced by others. Interact with others as they please, respect those around them as well as those who create the conditions under which all can develop without fear or coercion. The lack of this basic conviction brings down entire systems that rely on the exploitation of humans for labor power.

Human Rights and Dignity

It is believed that human rights and dignity cannot be separated. Because human rights and dignity are inextricably linked. The need for the individual to live without fear of harm is part of what makes it possible for them to assert their own identity. That leads them to achieve their potential, enjoy protection from abuse by others, make choices without being manipulated or coerced by others. And also interact with others as they please, respect those around them as well as those who create the conditions under which all can develop without fear or coercion.

However, if we take it in an even wider sense, we can say that dignity is something intrinsic to each individual. Regardless of their status in society; it’s a condition given to people because they are human beings. But to claim their human dignity, people need to be given the right to make the most of what they’ve got.

But there is much more to dignity than just being free from pain and harm. Another major dimension of human dignity is that one has an inherent worth beyond mere existence, just for being human. It is the dignity of having a purpose or function that one can fulfill, of being able to develop one’s potential and live life on one’s own terms. Even pandemic situation, every citizen shall be entitled at all times to respect for his private and family life, his home, and his correspondence.