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What does it mean to be ‘at risk’? How do inherent characteristics, contextual factors, and relationships intertwine to increase susceptibility to harm? Vulnerability has intrigued scholars across sociology, politics, and human rights law. However, using ‘vulnerability’ to describe people’s situations has faced criticism for potentially essentialising, oversimplifying, or disempowering individuals, which leads to their instrumentalisation. Alternatives emphasising empowerment, resilience, and intersectionality have surfaced to address these critiques, focusing on contextual threats to human security and dignity. Inherent traits may influence susceptibility to harm, while contextual factors consider the subject, environment, and timeframe through tangible and intangible elements. This paper aims to explore the mechanisms of vulnerability comprehensively, incorporating inherent factors, contextual elements, and relational dynamics. By proposing a conceptual framework to categorise vulnerability factors, this study offers a practical approach to address gaps in international human rights law, particularly useful to better understand emerging issues like climate migration and compounded discrimination. Ultimately, the paper calls for adaptive, interdisciplinary, and inclusive reforms of human rights mechanisms to safeguard dignity and equity in the face of global challenges.
Sarah Lajeunesse (Thu,) studied this question.