Recently, Professor Mo Jihong, Director of CASS Institute of International Law, was interviewed by the weekly magazine Globe on the main controversies and problems emerged in western society, especially at the government level, in the fight against COVID-19 endemic, including the human rights, double standard and stigmatization.

In the interview, Professor Mo pointed out that there are three main controversies in western countries, including the US, France, Italy, the UK, and Brazil, especially at the government level, in the fight against the COVID-19 endemic: first, the controversy between “herd immunity” and “quarantine”; second, the controversy between “scientific prevention and control of the endemic” and effective prevention and control of the endemic”; and third, the controversy between effective supply medical resources and monopoly. Besides, the origin of the coronavirus is also a controversial issue.

With regard to the issue of human rights, Professor Mo pointed out that the concept of human rights has undergone a process of development from negative rights, which only require the state to restrict its own power and respect individual freedom, to that of positive rights, which require the state to take active measures to ensure their realization. This development also reflects the role played by human rights in the progress of human civilization. The COVID-19 endemic has showed that some western countries have failed to take positive measures and establish a scientific and effective legal mechanism to safeguard human rights, especially the right to life and right to health.

With regard to the issue of “double standard” and “stigmatization”, Professor Mo pointed out that they are like “political viruses” that are spreading in western countries along with the coronavirus and reflect to a certain extent the friction, even confrontation, between different values and ideologies in today’s world. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has pointed out that the international community should respect human rights and refrain from acts of stigmatizationin the fight against the COVID-19 endemic.