JD Thesis Writing 2; Topic Outline

Working Title: Blindsided: Looking into the International Human Right Standards in light of
the Response Against COVID-19

Student Researcher: Jan Mae Dec Abastillas

Adviser: Atty. Roy Mikhail Galvez

Chapter 4
RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS

1. General discussions about the impact of COVID-19 (Gathered from online sources)
1.1. Impact on the world
1.2. Impact on the Philippines
1.3. Summary of impact taking into consideration both the world and the Philippines

2. The first research question will be addressed: What are the issues and concerns ventilated
in the Philippines’ implementation of COVID-19 Response vis-à-vis International
Human Rights norms and standards?
2.1. Discussions about the issues faced by the PH government gathered from online
sources.
2.2. Discussions about the issues faced by the PH government gathered from the
interviews conducted.

3. The second research question will be addressed: What principles justify the Philippines’
resort to drastic measures in response to COVID-19?
3.1. Discussion of general principles of international law from online sources
3.2. Discussion of principles that justified Philippines’ resort to drastic measures during
the emergence of COVID-19.
3.3. Discussions about the opinions of international law experts as well as ordinary
citizens.
 3.4. Comparison of their answers.

4. The third research question will be addressed: Does the existence of the COVID-19
pandemic justify the suspension of certain human rights? If yes, what international legal
obligations on human rights standards had to be deferred, interrupted, or deviated from
by the Philippine Government in light of COVID-19? What legal justification may be
invoked to preclude the wrongfulness of state acts in relation to the pandemic?
4.1. Discussions of the legal obligations on human rights from online sources.
4.2. Discussions of the legal obligations on human rights from international law
experts.

5. The fourth research question will be addressed: What countermeasures can the Philippine
government do to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 response on human rights?
5.1. Discussions of the measures found online sources.
5.2. Discussions of measures suggested by international law experts.
5.3. Discussions of measures suggested by ordinary citizens.

6. The fifth research question will be addressed: Why should the Philippine Government be
concerned about the health of all its citizens?
6.1. Discussions based on online sources.
6.2. Discussions of answers of international law experts.

7. Results will be compared, analyzed, and finalized.