Generations of Progress for Women and Girls Could be Lost to COVID Pandemic, UN Chief Warns
Source: UN News
In an address to a virtual town hall with young women from civil society organizations, the Secretary-General said that the global pandemic has already reversed decades of limited and fragile progress on gender equality and women’s rights.
“Without a concerned response, we risk losing a generation or more of gains”, he cautioned.
Mr. Guterres underscored the vital role played by women, as healthcare workers, essential staff, teachers and carers, helping millions globally – both within and outside their homes. However, few are recognized due to persisting inequalities and biases. At the same time, many women working in the informal sector have been thrown into financial insecurity, without regular income or effective social safety nets.
“The pandemic has exposed the extent of its impact on physical and mental health, education and labour force participation”, said Mr. Guterres, amid disturbing reports from around the world of skyrocketing gender-based violence, “as many women are effectively confined with their abusers, while resources and support services are redirected. In short, the pandemic is exposing and exacerbating the considerable hurdles women face in achieving their rights and fulfilling their potential”, he said.
Monday’s town hall meeting is a regular fixture on the UN calendar, but generally organized on the side-lines of the annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women. This year, however, it was postponed due to the pandemic and held virtually, with thousands of women activists and defenders of women’s rights participating remotely.
Read more here.
Engaging traditional leaders to End Violence Against Women and Girls and Harmful Practices in Africa
Source: UN Women
The Council of Traditional and Cultural leaders of Africa, in partnership with UN Women and UNFPA have kickstarted a webinar series which will be held between August and December 2020 as a component of COTLA’s advocacy and actions to advance gender equality in Africa and end sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The first of this series of dialogue took place on Monday 31 August 2020 and brought together traditional leaders across the continent, including the Convenor-General of COTLA, HRM (Arc.) King Adedapo Aderemi. The Executive Director of UN Women Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, AU African Union Goodwill Ambassador on Ending Child Marriage, Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, and the Head of Unit “Gender, Human Rights and Democratic Governance”, European Commission, Chiara Adamo attended the webinar as well.
Read more here.
