Social and economic crisis resulted from COVID pandemic opened up the eyes of the commoners and concerned citizens around structural limitations and policy gaps to protect the life and livelihoods of the people across the globe. Southern countries are hit hard by the pandemic and left millions of smallholder farmers, micro entrepreneurs, workers and even mid-level professionals at risk of sliding back to the extreme poverty and vulnerability. Global citizens need to raise their voice demanding universal social protection as a human right and obligation of the state and international community.