In Focus: Gender equality matters in COVID-19 response

Photo: UN Women /Juan Camilo Arias

UN Women is working to provide support to all women on the front lines of the fight against this pandemic; promoting flexible working arrangements for women with a burden of care; and prioritizing services to prevent gender-based domestic violence. Now you, too, can help them.

Get updates

The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health issue. It is a profound shock to our societies and economies, and women are at the heart of care and response efforts underway.

As front-line responders, health professionals, community volunteers, transport and logistics managers, scientists and more, women are making critical contributions to address the outbreak every day.

The majority of caregivers, at home and in our communities, are also women.

Additionally, they are at increased risk of infection and loss of livelihood, and existing trends point to less access to sexual and reproductive health and rise in domestic violence during crisis.

UN Women is bringing up-to-date information and analysis on how and why gender matters in COVID-19 response.

For more information on UN Women's work around the world, visit the regional sites: Africa | Arab States | Asia Pacific | Europe & Central Asia | Latin America and the Caribbean

Videos

The leaders of the United Nations are #WithHer. Are you?

Four key actions to include women’s needs in the COVID-19 response

Watch more on our COVID-19 and gender equality playlist

What our leaders are saying

Un Secretary-General Antonio Guterres — "Put women and girls at the centre of efforts to recover from COVID-19"

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka speaks, — Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic

More messages from our leaders ►

News and stories

Paraguayan craftswomen face the crisis with solidarity and self-management

En Guatemala, invertir en el empoderamiento económico de las mujeres indígenas es clave para “reconstruir mejor” post-Covid

In Guatemala, investing in indigenous women’s economic empowerment is key to building back better after COVID-19

Take Five: "What we are going through right now is a life lesson for everyone."

Shortage of food and water challenge the prevention of the Coronavirus in Brazil’s largest indigenous reserve: In an interview with UN Women Brazil, earlier this month, nurse Indianara Machado Ramires Guarani Kaiowá, explained why indigenous women and children were more vulnerable and pointed out how persisting historical issues increased the risks posed to them by the new Coronavirus pandemic.

Advice from activists: How COVID-19 is changing climate activism for young women

UNFPA and UN Women have distributed more than 1,300 dignity kits containing essential hygiene supplies such as soap and menstrual pads to women living in prisons and quarantine centres. Photo: UNFPA El Salvador — Imprisoned, quarantined women need hygiene supplies in El Salvador

From where I stand: “I am fearful for smaller countries that have limited resources during COVID-19” — From where I stand: “I am fearful for smaller countries that have limited resources during COVID-19".

A woman doctor tends to a young woman. Photo: UN Women/Mohammad Rakibul Hasan — COVID-19 and gender: What do we know; what do we need to know?

Maria Kolesnikova: An activist from Kyrgyzstan leading the eco-movement and spreading green values

Luz María Inca Paguay — **From where I stand: "I hope that people in my country and in the rest of the world take the health situation seriously"**

Download the social media package available in English, French and Spanish from Trello.

We need to practice gratitude now more than ever as we face drastic life adjustments with #COVID19. Who are you grateful for in these challenging times? pic.twitter.com/amrc7mA15C
— UN Women (@UN_Women) March 23, 2020

We may be distant, but we’re not alone. #QuarantineLife looks different, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. pic.twitter.com/f2zq3gfMJa
— UN Women (@UN_Women) March 23, 2020

Data and infographics

COVID-19: emerging gender data
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing untold human suffering and is likely to heighten gender-based inequalities around the world. UN Women is working with partners to bridge the gender data gap and deliver a more accurate picture of the gender dimension to the response so that it can be more effective for women and girls. For gender-related data on COVID-19 visit this page.

The shadow pandemic - violence against women and girls and COVID-19
In times of crisis, violence against women and girls is likely to increase as security, health, and money worries heighten tensions and strains are accentuated by cramped and confined living conditions.