Introduction to Socio-economic Rights, Inequalities and Vulnerability in Times of Crises: Building Back Better

The COVID-19 pandemic not only exposed existing inequalities and compounded them, but it also revealed new forms of inequalities and vulnerabilities. It also widened the gaps between the Global North and South, inter alia in terms of access to healthcare, medicine and vaccines. In addition, it laid bare socio-economic fault lines. All of these situations contribute to the intergenerational transmission of vulnerability and the perpetuation of socio-economic inequalities. The principle of ‘building back better’ is an appropriate and useful lens through which to further examine the impacts of emergency situations, and in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, on socio-economic rights because it highlights the importance of society being able to restore itself after a disaster. Moreover, it aligns with the human rights framework, in particular the key human rights principles of equality and non-discrimination, as will be illustrated throughout the chapters in this volume.