A state of emergency is a legal status in which many rights are suspended and civil liberties are restricted. It is often imposed in times of war, but it may also be used during political crisis or a natural disaster. The state of emergency is usually temporary and can be lifted when the threat has subsided. It can be imposed by the government, but in some cases it is granted to civil society groups or organisations, such as police forces and hospitals.
States of emergencies are an important legal tool to manage crisis situations. They can be declared for a variety of reasons, such as natural disasters, terrorism attacks, civil unrest or disease outbreaks. The power to declare a state of emergency is generally very broad, allowing authorities to restrict freedom of movement and conduct searches without warrants. They can also confiscate property and force businesses to operate for their benefit.
States of emergency are usually accompanied by a public information campaign, informing citizens on what they can expect from the state of emergency. They can also specify that some or all government programs will be activated to assist with the response to the crisis. However, the definition of what constitutes a state of emergency is highly variable between countries and can be interpreted broadly or narrowly. Nicole Questiaux and Leandro Despouy, two consecutive United Nations Special Rapporteurs on human rights and states of emergency, have recommended the adoption of a set of principles for use during a state of emergency: namely, proclamation, notification, time limit, exceptionality, proportionality and non-discrimination.