In Focus: Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response
Publications | News | Speeches and statements | Video
The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health issue. Women are playing a disproportionate role in responding to the disease, including as frontline healthcare workers, carers at home and community leaders and mobilisers. Experience of other disease outbreaks show that this care burden also increases their risk of infection.
The response to coronavirus is a reminder of the essential contribution of women at all levels, including as frontline responders, health professionals, community volunteers, transport and logistics managers, scientists, doctors, vaccine developers and more.
UN Women is bringing up-to-date information and analysis on how and why gender matters in COVID-19 response.
Publications
The extent of the socio-economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has begun to shape the “new normal” for CARICOM Member States. A 1.5% contraction of Gross Domestic Product has already been estimated by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC, 2020). While governments balance this “new normal,” there is also an ‘above-average’ forecast for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which takes place from June 1 to November 30.
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Feature-Women farmers find paths to market amidst
COVID-19From Where I Stand: Ryancia Henry
Speeches and statements
Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic
by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director
"With 90 countries in lockdown, four billion people are now sheltering at home from the global contagion of COVID-19. It’s a protective measure, but it brings another deadly danger. We see a shadow pandemic growing, of violence against women.
As more countries report infection and lockdown, more domestic violence helplines and shelters across the world are reporting rising calls for help..."
COVID-19: Women front and centre
Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director
“We need mitigation strategies that specifically target both the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on women and that support and build women’s resilience..."
Checklist for COVID-19 response by DED Regner
By UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér
“The rapid changes in daily life we are all experiencing have different impacts on women and men. So I ask 10 questions to those who lead governments, municipalities, parliaments and other decision makers…"
Infographic
Video: How are women uniquely impacted by crises like COVID-19?
During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, women make essential contributions as leaders and frontline responders. But they are also hit harder by the health, economic and social impacts of the outbreak. Paying attention to women’s needs and leadership will strengthen the #COVID19 response.