COVID-19: Emerging Gender Data and Why it Matters

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing unimaginable human suffering and is likely to heighten gender-based inequalities around the world. As economic activity comes to a halt, women who face disadvantage in access to decent work will suffer the most.

What’s more, health pandemics can make it more difficult for women and girls to receive treatment and health care. There is also a growing concern that violence against women and girls is intensifying as women with violent partners find themselves isolated from the people and resources that can help them.

UN Women has been closely following the political and economic response to COVID-19 and how it is impacting women and girls. They are working with partners to deliver a more accurate picture of the gender dimension to the response so that it can be more effective for women and girls.

The report finds that governments are responding under huge pressure to act fast, and this sometimes means that they may act without considering diverse perspectives, including gender. For instance, stay-at-home orders limit the spread of the virus, but can potentially result in dangerous situation for women with violent partners.

Last modified: July 21, 2020

Language: English