Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has reiterated the need to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls. She noted that responses of various governments to the pandemic had had unintended negative consequences on many people especially, women in developing countries and must be addressed....
The World Bank has given Zambia 142 million U.S. dollars which will go towards livelihood support for women and boost access to secondary education for disadvantaged adolescent girls in extremely poor households, the bank said on Wednesday. In a release, the bank said the funds are for additional support to the Girls Education and Women’s...
As of early July, South Sudan confirmed more than 2,000 coronavirus cases. The implementation of social distancing rules, curfews and the closure of non-essential business has had a drastic impact on small businesses, especially in the informal sector where women constitute the majority of the work force. Now that businesses have been allowed to re-open...
Cecilia Mwende Maundu is a broadcast journalist based in Kenya and a specialist in gender digital safety. She is also the current Secretary General of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television, Kenyan chapter. During COVID-19, women and girls are using the internet more than ever to stay connected with the world, but they...
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to roll back gains in women’s economic opportunities, widening gender gaps that persist despite 30 years of progress. Well-designed policies to foster recovery can mitigate the negative effects of the crisis on women and prevent further setbacks for gender equality. What is good for women is ultimately good for addressing income...
The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) says Covid-19 has reversed the limited progress women have made in the fight for gender equality and women’s rights. The league was honouring South Africa’s founding president, Nelson Mandela, and those who died of Covid-19 with a virtual prayer service on Sunday – just a day after the world marked Mandela...
More men than women may have contracted Covid-19 around the world, but experts have warned that the pandemic may set gender equality back by decades. Melinda Gates, the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said in a paper this week that policymakers risked prolonging the crisis and slowing economic recovery if they ignored the gendered...
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Rwanda office has concluded a two-week campaign that was aimed at creating awareness on the plight of women and girls who are affected by Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and defilement. The campaign dubbed “Against my will Campaign” or” Ntibiri mu bushake bwanjye” in Kinyarwanda started from June 30 and ended...
The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere, “but it does not affect everyone equally”, the UN chief said in his message for World Population Day, on Sunday. “It is deepening existing inequalities and vulnerabilities, particularly for women and girls”, said Secretary-General António Guterres. “With many countries on lockdown and health systems struggling to cope, sexual and...
Canada has announced additional funding for its ongoing Women’s Voice and Leadership project in light of the COVID-19 pandemic The 500,000 Canadian dollar increase, equivalent to approximately 1.3 million Ghana Cedi, will help to reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 on the rights of the poorest and most marginalized women and girls in Ghana. This...
