Ubuntu as a Philosophy Advancing Human Rights: The Humanistic Social Work Thinking Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 Robert Kudakwashe Chigangaidze has impacted on mental health of the general population as well as of the healthcare professionals. Like other pandemics, COVID-19 has exposed people to depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, adjustment disorders, panic and fear, to mention but a few. The impact of COVID-19 goes beyond mental health as it has been associated with deprivation of human rights. A human rights approach to COVID-19 must be holistic and recognise the spectrum of the challenges of both social, economic and cultural rights, and civil and political rights. The United Nations has advocated for the adherence of human rights if the global community is to build better and resilient cities after the pandemic (United Nations 2020). Essentially, Ubuntu philosophy is considered as one of the worldviews that promotes human rights and has been linked to humanistic approaches to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the above, this chapter will explore the relevance of Ubuntu philosophy in advancing human rights beyond the COVID-19 pandemic from the Humanistic Social Work perspective.