CARE International and UN Women says pandemic poses extreme risk to women and girls in Latin America and the Caribbean

Disease outbreaks affect people of different genders differently. During these crises, under-resourced social protection and health systems are generally unable to keep up with the pace needed. This exacerbates pre-existing gender and intersectional inequalities, as it disproportionately impacts those who are already struggling to access resources – especially women, girls, and gender-diverse people from at-risk or marginalized groups. Recognizing these different ways are fundamental to understanding the full impacts of health emergencies and to creating effective, appropriate, equitable responses.

As the situation worsens and the economic recovery remains lengthy and uncertain, the possibility of social unrest and an increase in crime is likely to contribute to physical and sexual violence against women.

"The COVID-19 crisis is exposing and will deepen historical socioeconomic inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean," said Tatiana Bertolucci, Director for CARE in the region "Indigenous, afro-descendant and displaced women and girls are most vulnerable because they are employed in already precarious sectors, they are more likely to lose their access to any income and will be less protected by social welfare systems, and let's not forget that women are also most often caretakers of the sick, elderly and kids. Because so many depend on them, women's disempowerment often has a domino effect within families and communities."

Women's unpaid care work and the unequal division of labor in households is being further exacerbated as COVID-19 response measures maintain schools closed along with public spaces, and care services. Women in LAC already spend almost three times as much time on unpaid care work compared to men. As public resources are stretched to their limits as a result of the emergency, States' ability to continue providing care related to the welfare system will further diminish when it is most needed, meaning women's caregiving role and hours spent will continue to grow. Furthermore, as the availability of jobs remains limited throughout the economic recovery, women will find greater challenges in accessing labor markets in terms of the burden of hours related to care work.

Furthermore, as reported by both organizations, lockdowns have resulted in an alarming increase in gender-based violence, including femicide, early pregnancy, and other forms of sexual assault and abuse. While some countries have set up mechanisms to prevent and address domestic violence, others where the situation for women and girls was already dire before the pandemic continue to deteriorate.

"It is important to remember that violence against women and girls was already the world's most widespread human rights violation before the pandemic," said María Noel Vaeza, Regional Director for UN Women. "In Latin America and the Caribbean, it effects on average 1 in 3 women throughout their lives. The root causes of this violence are gender inequality and discrimination, as well as the harmful social norms and the high levels of tolerance and impunity in our societies. The Rapid Gender Analysis offers concrete, practical recommendations for gender equality in humanitarian programming."

Given this critical context in the region, this report calls for ensuring gender equality and women's empowerment into COVID-19 response as central to provide an effective and comprehensive approach.

Key recommendations include: