Research conducted by participants in the sub-project Vulnerable Societies (VS) deals with a potpourri of topics linked to the vulnerability of members of societies. Vulnerability refers to the characteristics of a person or group and their situation that influence their capacity to anticipate, to cope with, resist and recover from the impacts of factors such as physical, economic, environmental, political, institutional, chronic poverty, religion, ethnicity, unemployment, food insecurity, gender, culture, human rights abuses, marginalisation, well-being, education, health, social protection, social responsibility, etc.

The overarching aim of this sub-project is to find innovative, juridical solutions to advance the interests of societies in South Africa and globally by addressing the issues that makes them vulnerable.