Across the Asia-Pacific and around the globe, there is emerging evidence that Covid-19 is having a disproportionate impact on women and girls, particularly women of color, including on their economic opportunities, rights and security, and voice and leadership in decision-making. Tough measures to control the disease—such as closing businesses, restricting personal freedoms, and reducing community interaction—have caused fear, anxiety, and crushing economic uncertainty, all of which are shown to contribute to violence against women and girls as well as LGBTI+ persons. Gender-based violence (GBV) has increased at an alarming rate during the pandemic.
A recent interactive webinar hosted by The Asia Foundation explored feminist strategies to mitigate the gendered effects of the pandemic. Here, in the form of three takeaways, is a glimpse of that urgent discussion.