The COVID19 pandemic has shaken the foundations of our society. Democratic rights and freedoms were compromised, voices of reason and dissent were suppressed and we witnessed the ugly rise of autocracy as the world grappled to find answers to solve this crisis that began as a health issue, but soon metamorphosed into the worst humanitarian debacle in living memory.

As we slowly recover from the clutches of the pandemic, it is critical to reflect and learn from the mistakes of the past.

• How should we rebuild better?
• What needs to be done to ensure that the recovery process is equitable
• What processes must we put in place so that peace, freedom, human rights and democracy are never violated in this manner again?