In the present report, submitted pursuant to General Assembly resolution 48/141, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights examines the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis on economic, social and cultural rights, focusing in particular on the rights to health and social protection. She identifies early practices in these areas that show promise in protecting the poorest and most marginalized groups and individuals during efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, and outlines rights-based pathways to build forward better through a new social contract.