A state of emergency is a special legal status that empowers a government to put through policies it would not normally be allowed to do, for the safety and protection of citizens. It can be triggered by natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict or a medical pandemic or epidemic, but it is also sometimes used in situations not directly related to these crises.
Each country has its own procedure for declaring a state of emergency, which usually involves the president advising parliament that there is a threat to public security or that the public’s health is at risk and it is necessary to take immediate measures. The state of emergency is declared for a limited time period, which may be extended by parliament, and it may restrict freedom of speech, movement or the right to assemble.
State of emergency declarations can also affect the rights of local governments and private citizens, with some states allowing them to impose restrictions on the sale or provision of goods and services during a state of emergency. Whether or not these restrictions are legally justified depends on the specific situation, and it is important for states to understand the authorities that flow from each emergency declaration, the agencies involved in responding activities and the impacts on their local communities.
Some states have been criticized for the use of emergency declarations during their rule by dictatorships, but they can be useful tools when a crisis requires enhanced actions that legislative gridlock or the influence of interest groups has thwarted. In particular, they allow harm mitigation in the short term while legislative or regulatory processes are carried out, which can save lives.