 With COVID-19, a fast-moving and global health crisis has collided with many slower and more entrenched political, social and economic crises around the world. And those multiple underlying fractures which have made us more vulnerable to this virus and create entry points for its harms result primarily from political processes that exclude people's voices and gaps in human rights protection. I see important opportunities for us to assist states to devise human rights-based actions that can de-escalate tensions, support sustainable development and preserve people's well-being even at this challenging time. Humanity has faced many crises. I'm convinced that together we can weather the current challenges and that our societies can emerge better able to prevent injustice. It is time to rise onto the occasion.