Covid-19 and the Law - Protection and Recovery for Vulnerable Groups

由于政府、企业和个人在大流行中面临独特的挑战，必须开发创新的方法来满足紧迫需求。商业实体发现，履行其商业合同所规定的义务，如履行付款或提供货物或服务，即使不是不可能，也越来越困难。企业正面临重要的成本削减，供应链受到影响，大宗商品价格不稳定正在造成贸易严重中断。由于在当前的新冠肺炎危机中，国家补贴不足以拯救企业，私人之间的纠纷可能会增加。此外，旅行禁令和封锁阻碍了家庭团聚，增加了家庭暴力。某些群体比其他群体更容易受到伤害，如小企业和消费者、妇女和儿童、发展中经济体的供应链工人、移民和难民。这项研究旨在保护那些受疫情负面影响风险较高的人。为此，这项研究将评估英国和日本的现有法律机制与不同的法律制度和部门的比较，并将确定司法管辖区的整体需求，以了解如何有效地最大限度地提高最脆弱群体的安全和诉诸法律的途径。首先，研究将阐明跨司法管辖区的现有法律原则，以了解合同法和纠纷管理机制如何帮助弱势群体，以及是否需要改变。我们还将探讨通过仲裁、调解和快速通道诉讼等机制管理与新冠肺炎相关的纠纷的实践方面和不利之处。其次，贷款、证券权益、破产和消费者保护将是这项研究的进一步关键问题。这项研究将分析紧急措施是否具有足够的保护作用，或者是否需要在寒冷后恢复的道路上采取更多和更持久的步骤。与日本的比较也将是反思此类紧急措施的效率的基石。第三，商业和人权问题比以往任何时候都更是讨论的中心。这场大流行的空前后果加剧了现有的不平等，以及供应链中的健康和安全风险。评估是否有足够的保障措施是至关重要的。这项研究将分析目前关于尽职调查标准的发展情况，以了解在大流行期间和之后，这些标准可以在多大程度上适当地保护弱势工人，以及是否需要采取额外措施。第四，这项研究旨在关注家庭法领域的关键问题，如家庭暴力受害者诉诸法律的机会、儿童保育、监护权和探视权的执行、收入减少后的赡养问题以及国际家庭和夫妇的跨境旅行等。第五，将考虑移民和社会融合的全球问题。旅行禁令和边境管制影响了移民法律和政策。大流行时期的社会融合在欧洲和日本都提出了自己独特的挑战。这项研究旨在评估法律如何在大流行时期具体保护移民、避难所、移民工人和移民儿童。通过涵盖不同的法律领域，采取跨学科的方法，考虑后日冕时代重建社会的方法，将产生重要的成果，为加强对弱势群体的保护，寻求社会的进一步发展奠定理论和实践基础。这项研究将特别揭示后COVID时代的全球治理。为了应对这一流行病带来的前所未有的挑战，需要跨国行为者之间的全球合作，以提供和平、安全和正义。

As governments, businesses, and individuals face unique challenges in the pandemic, innovative approaches must be developed to address urgent needs. Business entities are finding it increasingly difficult if not impossible to satisfy their obligations pursuant to their commercial contracts, such as performing payment or providing goods or services. Companies are facing important cost cutting, supply chains are affected, and unstable pricing of commodities is creating significant disruption in trade. Since state subsidies will not suffice to save businesses in the current COVID-19 crises, disputes between private parties are likely to increase. Furthermore, travel bans and lockdowns have hampered family reunification and increased domestic violence. Certain groups of people are more vulnerable than others, such as small businesses and consumers, women and children, supply chain workers in developing economies, migrants and refugees. The study aims to focus on the protection of those who are at a higher risk of being negatively impacted by the pandemic. To that end, the study will assess the existing legal mechanisms in the UK and Japan in comparison to various legal systems and sectors, and will identify the holistic needs of jurisdictions, to understand how to effectively maximise safety and access to justice for the most vulnerable.First, the study will shed some light on existing legal principles across jurisdictions to understand how contract law and dispute management mechanisms can assist vulnerable groups, and whether changes are needed. The practical aspects and downsides of COVID-19 related dispute management through mechanisms such as arbitration, mediation and fast track litigation will also be examined. Second, loans, securities interests, insolvency and consumer protection will be further key issues in the study. The study will analyse whether emergency measures were sufficiently protective, or if additional and more permanent steps need to be taken on the way to post-Covid recovery. A comparison with Japan will also be a cornerstone to reflect on the efficiency of such emergency measures.Third, more than ever, business and human rights issues are at the centre of the discussion. The unprecedented consequences of the pandemic have increased existing inequalities, as well as health and safety risks across supply chains. It is critical to assess whether sufficient safeguards are in place. The study will analyse current developments on due diligence standards to understand to what extent they can properly protect vulnerable workers during and after a pandemic and whether additional measures are necessary. Fourth, the study aims to focus on key issues in the area of family law, such as access to justice for victims of domestic violence, child care, custody and access enforcement, maintenance issues after reduction of income, as well as cross-border travel for international families and couples, etc. Fifth, global issues of migration and social integration will be considered. Travel bans and border controls have impacted migration laws and policies. Social integration in times of pandemic presents its own unique challenges both in Europe and Japan. The study aims to assess how the law can specifically protect migrants, refuges, immigrant workers and immigrant children in times of pandemic. By covering different areas of law, taking interdisciplinary approach and considering the methods of rebuilding society in the post-corona era, it will yield important results and set theoretical and practical foundations for improving the protection of vulnerable people and seeking further developments of the society. The study will particularly shed light on global governance in the post-COVID era. In response to the unprecedented challenges brought by the pandemic, a global cooperation among transnational actors is needed to provide peace, security and justice.