They are a vital part of a ‘human-rights compliant’ COVID‑19 response, according to the United Nations. They are not, of course, a silver bullet to protect democracy from authoritarianism. Their effectiveness relies heavily on the quality of the review, and they are open to manipulation and constant extension. Sunset clauses are, nevertheless, an important litmus test for the sincerity with which a government is safeguarding democratic rights and principles and have been widely discussed and debated in recent months. (2020) source Unverified