The Lancet COVID-19 Commission & Inequality

The Lancet COVID-19 Commission was launched on July 9, 2020, to assist governments, civil society, and UN institutions in responding effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing to light and exacerbating pre-existing social, economic, and political inequalities, including inequalities of wealth, health, wellbeing, social protection, and access to basic needs including food, health care, and schooling. The pandemic is bringing about a sharp increase in income inequality and jobs crises for low-paid workers. Health inequalities also pose major issue in this pandemic; as of December, 2017, half of the world’s population did not have access to essential health services.

Among the most urgent challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic are hunger and food insecurity for poor and vulnerable populations. The pandemic also poses great concerns for mental health, especially for lower-income populations. The gender dimensions of COVID-19 must also be prioritised, in recognition of the documented increase in unplanned pregnancies for teenage and young women, and the increase in gender based violence.

The abrupt shift to an online economy came in the context of a deep, pre-existing digital divide in high quality digital access. We call on all relevant UN agencies to take concrete steps with the digital industry and governments to accelerate universal access to digital services, including public–private financing to extend connectivity to hard-to-reach populations.

Many of the very large institutions will deliver a solution, the question is when and how much damage will be done before it can be implemented? Sometimes more nimble smaller organisations can start the process and pass the baton when the large institutions are ready.

The full Lancet COVID-19 Commission Statement can be accessed here.