17 November 2021, 9:00-16:00 (CET)
Gender and COVID-19 impacts on health, peace/security, violence and economy
According to the latest Global Gender Gap Report, ‘The COVID-19 pandemic has raised new barriers to building inclusive and prosperous economies and societies. Pre-existing gender gaps have amplified the crisis asymmetrically between men and women, even as women have been at the frontlines of managing the crisis as essential workers. The hardest hit sectors by lockdowns and rapid digitalization are those where women are more frequently employed. Combined with the additional pressures of providing care in the home, the crisis has halted progress toward gender parity in several economies and industries.’
While new barriers have emerged, pre-existing risks and threats have been exacerbated, namely violence. According to the UNDP, ‘Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency – whether economic crises, conflict, or disease outbreaks. Pre-existing toxic social norms and gender inequalities, economic and social stress caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, coupled with restricted movement and social isolation measures, have led to an exponential increase in GBV. Many women are in ‘lockdown’ at home with their abusers while being cut off from normal support services.’
COVID-19 as a protracted crisis has demonstrated the intersectionality of gender inequality and social exclusion with social cohesion, protection, and security.
Overarching goal
To share lessons learned and good practices, namely to foster learning and practice based solutions based on cumulative experiences to date from both a response but also recovery perspective, namely ‘building back better’.
Rationale and scope
Based on your feedback, we have prioritized four main topics in relation to COVID-19 and Gender impacts. These are,
- Gender and Health
- Women, Peace and Security
- Gender Based Violence (including Backlash)
- Gender and Economy (jobs and income (WEE))
The Sub-topics we will mainstream are, social inclusion (LNOB); Unpaid Care Work (UPCW), intersectionality and tools/approaches developed/used.
Key objectives
- To explore different spheres of impact on gender and responses to COVID-19
- To share good practices and lessons learnt, including innovations, approaches and tools developed or used which worked well, namely have a repository of up-to-date resources and not reinvent the wheel
- To strengthen network linkages between SDC implementing partners and foster peer exchange and support.
Program
09:00
| Welcome & introduction - Corinne Huser, SDC
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09:20
| Framing and Q&A - Lea Paccaud, UN Women
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10:00
| Case study sessions
Introduction to the topics and corresponding Case studies: Health, WPS, GBV, WEE
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10:35
| Working groups [round 1] Group 1: Gender and health
Group 2: Women, peace and security
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13:15
| Working group reporting
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12:45
| Working groups [round 2] Group 1: Gender and GBV
Group 2: Gender and economy
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15:25
| Working group reporting
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Documentation
Gender and COVID19: Case Study: SwisscontactThe PPSE project has as its main objective the creation of gainful and inclusive employment for young people, women, and minorities in SMEs in the food and natural ingredients as well as the tourism sector.
Gender and COVID19: Case Study: PWAGWomenPeaceTables are safe spaces for women, living in and close to the conflict zone, to share daily experiences of unsafety and discuss pathways to improve the social, political, and economic safety.
