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Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

International IDEA hosted the ‘Capacity Building Workshop for Women Leaders for a gender sensitive Implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Central African Republic’ held in Bangui on 17–18 June 2019. Participants included parliamentarians, 40 constituents from provinces occupied by rebel groups that have signed the Peace Agreement, as well as representatives of other armed groups, five members of the agreement’s monitoring mechanism, the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, women members of government, senior experts from FEMWISE/African Union and the AU representative to the Central African Republic. The monitoring mechanism includes the Executive Follow-up Committee, the National Implementation Committee, the Prefectural Implementation Committee, and the National Programme for Demobilization, Disarmament, Reinsertion, Reintegration and the Repatriation Implementation Unit.

The workshop helped develop the capacity of women leaders in two ways. First, it created awareness of how women leaders can translate the rights assigned to women in the Khartoum Agreement into tangible actions. Second, it strengthened the participants’ willingness and capacity to ensure the gender-sensitive implementation of the agreement.

An important outcome of the workshop was that the participants drafted a tentative action plan on how to put these insights into practice. In response to the participants’ request—and in order to further promote gender-sensitive peace enforcement initiatives, advocacy and widescale women’s oversight of the implementation process—the African Union Commission’s Department For Political Affairs and International IDEA will provide 10,000 printed copies of the French and Sango versions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to the women leaders in the Central African Republic in 2020.

Source: International IDEA.

Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

International IDEA hosted the ‘Capacity Building Workshop for Women Leaders for a gender sensitive Implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Central African Republic’ held in Bangui on 17–18 June 2019. Participants included parliamentarians, 40 constituents from provinces occupied by rebel groups that have signed the Peace Agreement, as well as representatives of other armed groups, five members of the agreement’s monitoring mechanism, the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, women members of government, senior experts from FEMWISE/African Union and the AU representative to the Central African Republic. The monitoring mechanism includes the Executive Follow-up Committee, the National Implementation Committee, the Prefectural Implementation Committee, and the National Programme for Demobilization, Disarmament, Reinsertion, Reintegration and the Repatriation Implementation Unit.

The workshop helped develop the capacity of women leaders in two ways. First, it created awareness of how women leaders can translate the rights assigned to women in the Khartoum Agreement into tangible actions. Second, it strengthened the participants’ willingness and capacity to ensure the gender-sensitive implementation of the agreement.

An important outcome of the workshop was that the participants drafted a tentative action plan on how to put these insights into practice. In response to the participants’ request—and in order to further promote gender-sensitive peace enforcement initiatives, advocacy and widescale women’s oversight of the implementation process—the African Union Commission’s Department For Political Affairs and International IDEA will provide 10,000 printed copies of the French and Sango versions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to the women leaders in the Central African Republic in 2020.

Source: International IDEA.

Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

International IDEA hosted the ‘Capacity Building Workshop for Women Leaders for a gender sensitive Implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Central African Republic’ held in Bangui on 17–18 June 2019. Participants included parliamentarians, 40 constituents from provinces occupied by rebel groups that have signed the Peace Agreement, as well as representatives of other armed groups, five members of the agreement’s monitoring mechanism, the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, women members of government, senior experts from FEMWISE/African Union and the AU representative to the Central African Republic. The monitoring mechanism includes the Executive Follow-up Committee, the National Implementation Committee, the Prefectural Implementation Committee, and the National Programme for Demobilization, Disarmament, Reinsertion, Reintegration and the Repatriation Implementation Unit.

The workshop helped develop the capacity of women leaders in two ways. First, it created awareness of how women leaders can translate the rights assigned to women in the Khartoum Agreement into tangible actions. Second, it strengthened the participants’ willingness and capacity to ensure the gender-sensitive implementation of the agreement.

An important outcome of the workshop was that the participants drafted a tentative action plan on how to put these insights into practice. In response to the participants’ request—and in order to further promote gender-sensitive peace enforcement initiatives, advocacy and widescale women’s oversight of the implementation process—the African Union Commission’s Department For Political Affairs and International IDEA will provide 10,000 printed copies of the French and Sango versions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to the women leaders in the Central African Republic in 2020.

Source: International IDEA.

Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

International IDEA hosted the ‘Capacity Building Workshop for Women Leaders for a gender sensitive Implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Central African Republic’ held in Bangui on 17–18 June 2019. Participants included parliamentarians, 40 constituents from provinces occupied by rebel groups that have signed the Peace Agreement, as well as representatives of other armed groups, five members of the agreement’s monitoring mechanism, the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, women members of government, senior experts from FEMWISE/African Union and the AU representative to the Central African Republic. The monitoring mechanism includes the Executive Follow-up Committee, the National Implementation Committee, the Prefectural Implementation Committee, and the National Programme for Demobilization, Disarmament, Reinsertion, Reintegration and the Repatriation Implementation Unit.

The workshop helped develop the capacity of women leaders in two ways. First, it created awareness of how women leaders can translate the rights assigned to women in the Khartoum Agreement into tangible actions. Second, it strengthened the participants’ willingness and capacity to ensure the gender-sensitive implementation of the agreement.

An important outcome of the workshop was that the participants drafted a tentative action plan on how to put these insights into practice. In response to the participants’ request—and in order to further promote gender-sensitive peace enforcement initiatives, advocacy and widescale women’s oversight of the implementation process—the African Union Commission’s Department For Political Affairs and International IDEA will provide 10,000 printed copies of the French and Sango versions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to the women leaders in the Central African Republic in 2020.

Source: International IDEA.

Women leaders suffered unspeakable atrocities during the conflict in the Central African Republic in which militias killed thousands and displaced many more. These women remain devoted to forging peace in their country and are doing so with help and support from International IDEA.

International IDEA hosted the ‘Capacity Building Workshop for Women Leaders for a gender sensitive Implementation of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Central African Republic’ held in Bangui on 17–18 June 2019. Participants included parliamentarians, 40 constituents from provinces occupied by rebel groups that have signed the Peace Agreement, as well as representatives of other armed groups, five members of the agreement’s monitoring mechanism, the first deputy speaker of the National Assembly, women members of government, senior experts from FEMWISE/African Union and the AU representative to the Central African Republic. The monitoring mechanism includes the Executive Follow-up Committee, the National Implementation Committee, the Prefectural Implementation Committee, and the National Programme for Demobilization, Disarmament, Reinsertion, Reintegration and the Repatriation Implementation Unit.

The workshop helped develop the capacity of women leaders in two ways. First, it created awareness of how women leaders can translate the rights assigned to women in the Khartoum Agreement into tangible actions. Second, it strengthened the participants’ willingness and capacity to ensure the gender-sensitive implementation of the agreement.

An important outcome of the workshop was that the participants drafted a tentative action plan on how to put these insights into practice. In response to the participants’ request—and in order to further promote gender-sensitive peace enforcement initiatives, advocacy and widescale women’s oversight of the implementation process—the African Union Commission’s Department For Political Affairs and International IDEA will provide 10,000 printed copies of the French and Sango versions of the Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation to the women leaders in the Central African Republic in 2020.

Source: International IDEA.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

As part of their research to produce a handbook to address the issue of legislation that discriminates against women, the IPU and UN Women recently held virtual consultations with parliamentarians from around the world.

Laws that discriminate against women affect 2.5 billion women and girls. The figures speak for themselves. Women have around 75 per cent of the legal rights of men, sometimes even less. Almost 40 countries do not have legal protections against domestic violence and over 100 countries do not have laws that criminalize marital rape. Child marriage is another issue that affects girls: many countries have exemptions that allow for girls to be married early. If a woman wants to obtain a divorce, she cannot do this on the same legal grounds as men in 45 countries. Economic rights are also unequal in law; 104 countries have laws preventing women from working in specific jobs.

The consultation involved some 20 MPs and experts. Participants included IPU office holders, as well as chairpersons and members of gender equality committees and women’s parliamentary caucuses from Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, El Salvador, Georgia, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Thailand, and Uzbekistan.

MPs spoke about challenges they face, for example, patriarchal systems supported by traditional and religious beliefs. They also shared progress and reforms in their countries, such as the quotas to increase women’s political participation, legislation to eradicate child marriage and protect women from sexual harassment, including within parliaments. They emphasized the importance of debate to convince their peers and citizens about the importance of gender-sensitive reforms.

The results of the consultation will feed into a forthcoming handbook Making Legislation Gender Responsive: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. The handbook aims to support parliamentarians to identify inequalities within their national legal frameworks and suggest strategies on how to reform these provisions, including through sharing best practices. It is part of a multi-stakeholder initiative, “Equality in law for women and girls by 2030”, that the IPU is a part of.

Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.

Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.

The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.

The results signal that 42 countries, one fifth (20%) of those analysed, have no gender-sensitive measures in response to COVID-19 at all. Only 25 countries, 12% of the world, have introduced measures that cover all three areas. These may include the provision of helplines, shelters, or judicial responses to counter the surge in violence against women and girls during the pandemic, cash transfers directly targeted at women, the provision of childcare services or paid family and sick leave.

“The COVID-19 crisis provides an opportunity for countries to transform existing economic models towards a renewed social contract that prioritizes social justice and gender equality. This new gender response tracker can help accelerate policy reform by guiding on gaps in national efforts and funding and highlighting best practices,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner.

“It’s clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is hitting women hard - as victims of domestic violence locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities, and as workers in jobs that lack social protection. The Global Tracker supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women”, said UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The new data show that governments have primarily focused their gender-related COVID-19 efforts on preventing and/or responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG) – these measures account for 71% percent of all actions identified, or 704 measures across 135 countries. Out of this, 63% focus on strengthening essential services, such as shelters, helplines and other reporting mechanisms. However, only 48 countries, less than a quarter of those analysed, treated VAWG-related services as an integral part of their national and local COVID-19 response plans, with very few adequately funding these measures.

Meanwhile, the social protection, care crisis and jobs response has been largely blind to women’s needs, with only 177 measures (10% of the total) across 85 countries explicitly aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, and less than one-third of countries (60 in total) taking action to support unpaid care and strengthen care services for children, older persons or persons with disabilities.

The tracker also shows that the gender response varies widely across countries and regions.

Europe is leading the response on addressing VAWG and unpaid care – accounting for almost 32 per cent of all violence measures and 49 per cent of all unpaid care measures. The American continent has the largest number of measures aimed at strengthening women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

Some positive examples:

• Bosnia-Herzegovina has developed a plan to support civil society organizations running shelters; and in Colombia and Sweden financial resources have or will be made available to support gender-based violence survivors.
• In response to the care crisis, Argentina has increased monthly child allowance payments; Australia and Costa Rica have ensured that childcare services remain open during lockdown; Austria, Cyprus and Italy have granted additional family leave to affected working parents, and Canada, Spain and Republic of Korea, have introduced cash benefits for parents who are affected by school and day care closures.
• Countries like Togo, Georgia and Morocco are providing cash transfers or grants to women entrepreneurs and informal traders.

Recommendations based on the tracker findings

The findings suggest that even where countries have adopted an impressive number of gender-sensitive measures, these will only be effective if they are adequately financed and sustained over time. Further recommendations include:

• Services to respond to and prevent VAWG must be treated as essential services, should be adequately funded and an integral part of national and local COVID-19 response plans;
• Fiscal packages must be devised to ensure that women are not left out of the pandemic response and recovery; and
• Governments must support women’s active participation in leadership and decision-making processes in their COVID-19 response and invest in sex-disaggregated data to ensure that the gender-differentiated impacts of the pandemic are recognized and effectively addressed.

Source: UNDP.