Why gender equality matters during a crisis like COVID-19
The importance of gender equality during crisis cannot be overstated as the impact of crisis is never gender neutral.
In the wake of COVID-19, the world has faced a global emergency not seen in a century. All of us have felt the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic from stress to economic insecurity to illness and personal loss.
With vaccine rollouts happening across the world, there is a new sense of optimism – a feeling that this will all be behind us soon. However, the reality is that COVID-19 has setback progress for millions of girls around the world. These setbacks are just beginning and will be felt for many years to come.
How has COVID-19 set back progress for gender equality?
Before the onset of COVID-19, slow but significant progress was being made towards achieving gender equality.
In fact, data revealed that more girls were exercising their rights to education, healthcare, clean water, sanitation and economic livelihood. Less girls were forced into child marriages, fewer were undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and we saw a decrease in maternal deaths for girls aged 15-19.
Today, all the progress made for girls’ rights is being undone. We are now faced with the reality that with each passing minute, more girls are facing dire consequences as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis.
In the next minute alone:
- 24 girls will have unintended pregnancies due to loss of access to contraception.
- 20 girls will be forced to drop out or not have access to school.
- 7 girls will go through Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
- 1 girl will die from pregnancy and childbirth complications.
how are we stopping the setback for girls?
The fragile gains the world had made towards achieving gender equality, especially equality for girls, are being unraveled as you read this. When girls are held back from growing to their full potential, we all lose. During a crisis, it is vital that we continue to invest in advancing gender equality because women and girls are most impacted.
Our COVID-19 response is stopping the setback on girls’ rights by including their unique needs and amplifying their voices.
Child protection
In order protect girls in crisis, Plan International is promoting action against gender based violence (GBV), distributing information on GBV and how to get support alongside COVID-19 materials, and training front line responders on how to ensure children’s, particularly girls’ safety from violence, sexual exploitation, abuse, separation and distress.
Education
How are we helping girls learn during a crisis? In a crisis, girls are 2.5 times more likely than boys to be out of school and less likely to return once schools reopen. We are helping girls learn during the pandemic through the distribution of menstrual supplies, learning kits, solar-powered radios, tablets and where possible financial support so that families can afford their girl’s education.
Sexual & reproductive rights
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, complications during pregnancy and childbirth were the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19. Gender inequality keeps adolescent girls from accessing lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care, education and services. But our health projects have adapted to ensure the continuity of this important work.
Economic Empowerment
Plan International is providing economic relief through cash vouchers and one-time grants to households most impacted by the pandemic. We are also helping girls and women through income-generating activities and facilitating training to develop their employment and entrepreneurship skills.
Time is running out for girls in crisis but together, we can stop the clock on the unraveling of their rights.
Stories about the covid-19 crisis