What we need is a strategy for all to recover

THE seriousness of the rise in Covid19 cases, hospitalisations and the new variants is leading to a discussion of more restrictions on travel. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said: ‘In order to keep our external and internal borders open, we need targeting measures that keep us all safe.’ European leaders are concerned about the effect of this. The question is: can we contain the virus without having more severe travel restrictions for those entering and leaving EU member states.

I think it is inevitable that we will need to take a stronger approach to this issue given what has happened in Ireland in December and the extraordinary seriousness of what’s happening right now. Some ask, do we need to face this now? I believe we do. Let me be clear, there is no economy if Covid continues to be out of control. It’s beyond clear we have to move to hotel quarantine or the equivalent.

Unfortunately, this will be yet another impact of lockdown among many others that I addressed in the European Parliament this week when

MEPs adopted my report on ‘The gender perspective in the Covid19 crisis and post-crisis period’.

If we are to respond in the best way to the multiple crises that Covid has caused and highlighted, we must take account of the gender differential in all areas.

Analysis from the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) shows that males have a higher risk of severe outcomes including death than females, and this difference becomes more marked in older age groups. Why this is happening, and the long-term impacts must be taken into account and addressed by the World Health Organisation, the ECDC and the European Commission.

On December 30, we shuddered at the thought of another lockdown. A shudder, not only for the lockdown itself, but for all of its secondary implications.

As my report outlines, women in particular feel this grave shudder – juggling work, childcare and housework at the same time. As the director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) says, ‘working from home is not a substitute for childcare’.

Job losses in female-dominated sectors are another cause for concern. In the US, for example, we know that in December, 156,000 women lost their jobs, while 16,000 men gained jobs.

If we are to recover fairly from this virus, recovery funds must be strategically targeted to ensure that everyone benefits. Traditionally, recovery funds went to male-dominated industries, ensuring men recover more quickly from the economic effects of crises. We must make sure this time that recovery funds are more equally distributed, benefiting all.

In addition, the last year has presented a stark case study in domestic and gender-based violence, the most obvious and horrific negative consequence of lockdown. Safe Ireland reported in November that an average of 2,000 women were in receipt of domestic violence services each month since the beginning of the pandemic in March.

Of those, 575 were first-time users of support services. This isn’t unusual or unique; these numbers are being replicated across Europe, and indeed the world, as lockdowns are put in place. Lockdown for happy families is a challenge. Lockdown for families involving a violent adult can be a tragedy.

Domestic violence is a crime, and the work by the Government and Minister Helen McEntee on the stillhere.ie campaign, as well as the many NGOs that support women escaping horrific circumstances, have been essential in supporting women during these difficult times. But more can be done. More funding, ensuring that shelters and other services can remain open, and courts and law enforcement can remain responsive to these calls throughout this busy period, is paramount.

Yet we can also learn from other countries. In Spain, for example, a particular code word was widely publicised and, if mentioned in a pharmacy or supermarket, the cashier would raise the alarm.

Another such area which Covid has shone a light on is the provision of care within our societies.

My report calls on the European Commission to bring forward proposals on a European Care Strategy and I was heartened to see the Citizens’ Assembly discussing this very issue of care last weekend.

I believe that a European

Care Strategy could direct EU funds to build care centres within our communities, such as crèche facilities, care centres for people with long-term illnesses and communities for older persons.

In addition, a strategy would allow for the collection of data across the EU, identifying trends on carers and those who are cared for, thus enabling governments and the EU to better respond to their needs.

And finally, a strategy could facilitate a space for countries to share best practices in care provision. The time to tackle care in Ireland and in the EU is long overdue.

And so, with every new measure and horror for now, we shudder a little.

Yet, as we slowly find our way out of this crisis, we can already start building the recovery: a gender-just recovery, that ensures that, despite the differential impact of Covid, we can recover together even if it does require further restrictions for a time.

‘There is no economy if Covid continues’