Response to the COVID-19 crisis must be inclusive​

The impact and lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic are only now starting to emerge. But the experience of living through the pandemic is already enough to know that we have to do better should this happen again. To achieve that, we need to use the momentum from the current situation to help prepare for a future crisis.

The virus causes great harm to everyone in society, but some are more susceptible than others. The most vulnerable are hit hardest, and many of them are women.

In order to lessen the impact of the crisis on women, we need inclusive decision- making processes, gender responsive budgeting, gender-disaggregated data, and gender impact assessments of policies and activities.

A key factor in building resilience and preparing for a crisis is inclusivity, so that women and men from all parts of society are involved in the process. If not, risks may be overlooked, responses inadequate and interventions less effective.

Women also need to be better represented in crisis response decision-making bodies so that the measures take into account the needs and demands of both women and men. This is particularly important when governments and parliaments adopt decisions and issue guidance aimed to support households and businesses in difficult times. Pre-existing gender inequalities in political participation constitute an obstacle to an effective response. Globally, only 25 per cent of all national parliamentarians were women, according to the global average of women in parliament provided by Inter-Parliamentary Union’s figures from 2020. Unfortunately, there is no data available on women’s participation in crisis management and disaster risk management.

Of particular concern is the impact of the crisis on gender-based violence, especially domestic violence. Home quarantines and lockdown measures can lead to increased incidents of violence, due to heightened tensions, economic insecurity and a lack of access to support services. Still, few countries had adequate measures in place to protect women and children from violence in their crisis response.

On a positive side, we do see good practices emerging, offering better protection and services to victims of domestic violence. For example, in Portugal, a new SMS hotline was activated so that victims can send written requests for help and two new emergency shelter facilities were opened. France allocated a one-million-euro fund to emergency services for victims of violence, and opened the first hotline “Don’t Hit” that offers advice to violent men.

To understand the multifaceted risks and vulnerabilities, particularly visible in times of crisis, we need to analyze gender roles and responsibilities in society. Governments must collect sex-disaggregated data and analyze how different factors such as age, ethnicity, religion, health and disability status, geographic location, and others may play a role in affecting various groups of women and men during a time of crisis.

We must apply gender analysis when designing short- and long-term recovery measures. The economic stimulus packages should aim at the most disadvantaged groups who lack access and control over resources. This can be found in informal and insecure jobs, in agriculture, small trade or services, among single parents, and families with many children.

We don’t know the gendered impact of the fiscal packages that have been adopted in response to the crisis yet. However, if they are not adequately protecting the income and livelihood of people in low paid and insecure work, and those not able to be re-employed after the crisis, inequalities will worsen.

Teleworking, as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19, has been widely introduced. But for those employed in essential jobs, which tend to be occupied by women, this is not an option. And it is not only health care workers, but also many others who are among those most exposed to the virus, yet remain invisible. What’s more, they are also among those with low income and little savings, such as shop assistants and cleaners. 

This pandemic highlighted the importance of unpaid, often unrecognized, care and domestic work that women provide for their families. They care for children, ageing, or sick family members. This clearly shows us the need to reconsider the values attached to different types of work.

It is in our common interest that the current crisis is managed to the benefit of all of society.