New threats to human security in the Anthropocene
Demanding greater solidarity
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly everyone and turned into a full-fledged human security and human development crisis. The most tragic impact has been a worldwide death toll of more than 10 million (the excess mortality in 2020–2021).1 But impacts go well beyond this distressing record. Most countries have suffered acute recessions. School closures and restrictions on people’s movement have disrupted the education of millions of children worldwide, with the resulting costs to learning still to be assessed. Many countries turned to remote learning, but an estimated two-thirds of the world’s school-age children lack internet access in their homes.2 There have
been serious setbacks in women’s empowerment and gender equality and increasing violence against women.3 Women have also been disproportionately affected by job losses.