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，必须制定创新方法来解决紧迫的需求。商业实体发现越来越难以甚至不可能履行其商业合同规定的义务，例如履行付款或提供货物或服务。企业面临重大的成本削减，供应链受到影响，商品价格不稳定正在对贸易造成重大干扰。由于国家补贴不足以在当前的COVID-19危机中拯救企业，私人各方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。某些人群比其他人群更脆弱，例如小企业和消费者、妇女和儿童、发展中经济体的供应链工人、移民和难民。这项研究的重点是保护那些更有可能受到这一流行病负面影响的人。为此，研究将评估英国和日本现有的法律的机制，并与各种法律的制度和部门进行比较，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弱势群体的安全和诉诸司法的机会。这项研究将阐明各管辖区现有的法律的原则，以了解合同法和争议管理机制如何提供帮助弱势群体，以及是否需要改变。此外，还将探讨通过仲裁、调解和快速诉讼等机制管理COVID-19相关争议的实际方面和缺点。第二，贷款、证券权益、破产和消费者保护将是研究的进一步重点问题。该研究将分析紧急措施是否具有足够的保护作用，或者是否需要在新冠肺炎后的恢复过程中采取额外和更永久的措施。与日本的比较也将成为反思此类紧急措施效率的基石。第三，工商业和人权问题比以往任何时候都更是讨论的中心。这一大流行病造成的前所未有的后果加剧了现有的不平等，并增加了整个供应链的健康和安全风险。关键是要评估是否有足够的保障措施。该研究将分析尽职调查标准的当前发展情况，以了解这些标准在大流行期间和之后能够在多大程度上适当保护弱势工人，以及是否需要采取额外措施。第四，该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司法、儿童保育、监护和探视权的执行、收入减少后的抚养问题以及国际家庭和夫妇的跨境旅行等。旅行禁令和边境管制影响了移民法律和政策。流行病时期的社会融合在欧洲和日本都提出了自己独特的挑战。该研究旨在评估法律如何在大流行时期具体保护移民、难民、移民工人和移民儿童。 通过涵盖不同的法律领域，采取跨学科方法并考虑在后电晕时代重建社会的方法，它将产生重要成果，并为改善对弱势群体的保护和寻求社会的进一步发展奠定理论和实践基础。该研究将特别揭示后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，需要跨国行为体之间开展全球合作，以提供和平、安全与正义。

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.