Strong political will key to overcoming gender inequality
LET me start by expressing my condolences to all who have lost friends and family through the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
Our world is in grief.
The pandemic has deepened food insecurity, increased the number of orphans and child-headed households, and lockdowns have resulted in more abuse of women and girls. There is also a looming debt crisis and displacement of women from the labour market. There is a threat of going back to the era when it was assumed “a woman’s place is at home”.
We face a troubled and turbulent world. This is also a time for solidarity, as we fight against the pandemic and for equitably shared vaccines.
The gains in gender equality made since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action have been under almost universal pressure, especially last year, whether in education, health, income generation, representation of women or safety and security. Regressions in gender equality threaten the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and need a dedicated, bold effort that builds on our breakthroughs, our shortcomings and lessons learnt.
Covid-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities across all aspects of life for women, girls and their communities. The impact of lost education for children, especially girls, is likely to have permanent effects for many. Our engagements with civil society, faith-based organisations and traditional leaders have been about community-driven efforts to stop losing a generation. Traditional leaders that we have partnered with in Africa are promulgating by-laws to further criminalise harmful practices, highlighting
the importance of collaborating at community level.
We are playing a part in policy advice in every corner of the world, and across the UN system where we are providing gender-sensitive advice.
We are also amplifying information on the unfolding catastrophic impact globally of the pandemic on women’s livelihoods, as most of the jobs being lost are women’s jobs.
Indeed, it is also a global emergency and it needs all of us to act.
However, even with all our work, nationally, globally, the response by
UN Women and many of us is still not adequate. Our Global Covid19 Gender Response Tracker shows that 42 countries have no gendersensitive measures at all in response to Covid-19.
Over $10trillion (about R148trillion) has been poured into fiscal and monetary packages. Yet only 15% of the support measures introduced cover violence against women and girls, support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security in ways that will overall entrench gender responsiveness and equity. We need to intervene in this situation.
We have continued to call for an ambitious, scaled-up response, given the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on women and girls. According to ILO, reserve banks, international financial institutions and governments, women are bearing the brunt of the economic fallout. Despite this reality, support for women is still somewhat limited. We have been calling for a better targeted response and delivery of services.
Similarly, recovery efforts must encompass both short- and long-term action on the “Shadow Pandemic” of violence against women and girls – an issue on which UN Women has led and informed the shaping of national policy and response plans across all regions.
The pandemic has also exacerbated gaps in women’s participation in decision-making. As we look ahead to emerging from the crisis, aspects like parity in political representation take on increased urgency. Women’s leadership and increased participation in decision making will be a cornerstone to sustain democratic values and enhance crisis management.
We need bold and ambitious change here. The pandemic must not in any way hinder the bold action needed for addressing gender equality. Action is needed right now. The pandemic should not be a deterrent for gender equality and for all types of women’s participation.
The upcoming session next month of the Commission on the Status of Women is an opportunity to make bold decisions on women’s participation. The pandemic makes this even more urgent. Both International Women’s Day and the Commission on the Status of Women will focus on women’s leadership.
It is an unmissable opportunity in 2021 that we cannot let go. We need to rise to the occasion. I hope we will witness strong political will.
In this moment, we need to advocate for all women in all their diversity, including those women who are facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and young women, who must participate equally in decision-making at the highest levels.
An important aspect of our work is the fight for a more equal future by ensuring racial justice.
We have ensured that we have a shared common vision with the other UN agencies, which takes forward the work of addressing the issues raised in the 25-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action as well as advancing the implementation of the Decade of Action.
This past year has been a strong validation and demonstration of our co-ordination work on a system-wide response and through repositioning processes. Generation Equality will build on these successes. Generation Equality will help us with fulfilling some of the promises that have not been fulfilled since we made them in Beijing. It will respond also to the needs that have now been created by the pandemic and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in the Decade of Action.
We look forward to working with you to build back better, and to ensure that building back better is green, is equitable, is gender-responsive and is inclusive.
This an edited version of opening remarks by the executive director of UN Women, Phumzile MlamboNgcuka, at the UN Women Executive Board First Regular Session 2021
SCIENTISTS have identified another new variant of the Covid-19 virus in the UK with a set of mutations, the BBC reported on Tuesday. The broadcaster said researchers from Edinburgh University had found 38 cases in samples dating back to December. The variant has been detected in Denmark, Nigeria and the US.
According to the Daily Mail UK, the strain is called B.1.525 and it carries the E484K mutation found in the South African and Brazilian variants. The discovery of this new variant would likely spark fears that Britain’s lockdown would be extended. | African News Agency (ANA)
New Zealand
AUCKLAND has been placed on lockdown after New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, above, confirmed early this week that three new cases of Covid were detected in the city, Al Jazeera reported.
According to local broadcaster RNZ National, Ardern announced the new lockdown measures on Sunday as health officials investigated the new outbreak.
The Independent UK quoted Ardern as saying that health officials were trying to figure out the source of infection and were working on two main leads. | African News Agency (ANA)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS: 9 Time something lasts (8)
10 Type of run (3)
11 Symbolic representation (6)
12 Ignominious failure (6)
13 Rearrange (7)
14 Spacious (4)
15 Muscular disorder (10)
17 Astronomical area (8)
18 Want (7)
19 Rubbish (4)
21 Demand (6)
24 Tennessee Williams play (3,5,9)
27 Writing desk (6)
29 Eager (4)
30 Surgical instrument (7)
33 Punishes severely (8)
35 Entranced (10)
36 Wholesome (4)
37 Dawn (7)
38 Prime (6)
40 Breakfast cereal (6)
41 Summit (3)
42 Motionless (8)
DOWN: 1 Rough treatment (10)
2 Popular game fish (4)
3 Extinct creature (8)
4 Robot (7)
5 Common European bird (4,7)
6 Enlisting (10)
7 Erode (6)
8 Mild mental disorder (8)
10 Flower (5)
16 Hawaiian instrument (7)
20 Ardent lover (5)
22 Hot dry wind (7)
23 Murder (11)
25 Business apparel (6,4)
26 Not essential (10)
28 Slippery (8)
31 American state (8)
32 Harass (7)
34 Anxious (6)
35 Stint (5)
39 Surly youths (4)
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
9 Learns one’s no stay-at-home? (5,3)
10 The foreigner is a bit of a liability (3)
11 Can possibly take three-quarters of an hour to fix firmly (6)
12 The test has been rigged again, in a way (6)
13 Sound very good, though having got a little disheartened (7)
14 Measure the rain one has trapped (4)
15 Owing to having gone in above one’s head? (4,2,4)
17 They come out for the audition (8)
18 It’s no good if you apply a smaller quantity (7)
19 A journey for threepence (4)
21 See, among the gashes from the blows (6)
24 Ensured one would have no more negative thoughts? (9,4,4)
27 Gets going on the small pastries (6)
29 Be alone when Ben has left the plant (4)
30 Sinatra performing is skilled at his work (7)
33 Took the trouble to set the two deer free (8)
35 Don’t be rough with the cards! (4,6)
36 Exploited the old (4)
37 Gives generously, they reveal? (7)
38 You should avoid them if you’re slimming, my dears (6)
40 Did he keep changing his viewpoint as an artist? (6)
41 He’s crazy for vegetarian food (3)
42 About the female animals, exaggerates (8)
DOWN
1 The wee “36” is almost new (6,4)
2 I get dole, losing nothing by not working (4)
3 Satisfies one that coins have not fallen inside (8)
4 He has a stab at making a label (7)
5 Delighted, amused and a little embarrassed (7,4)
6 Go towards but leave footprints behind you (4,6)
7 Scribble “sun-stroke” (6)
8 Left, which is a mistake? (3,5)
10 Stop to get a container to put the second in (5)
16 Agree the friend must come over for the conference (7)
20 Show the key is in the wrong door (5)
22 View as a good head, all round (7)
23 Good and bad days a lift operator knows all about (3,3,5)
25 If all else fails, Zurich from the list of holiday venues? (4,6)
26 One with nothing vital to communicate? (4,6)
28 Says glibly, as one leaves in a hurry (5,3)
31 List that will make an impression on you (8)
32 No one’s fool, but upset by love (7)
34 Making sure nobody will see you getting a licking (6)
35 Harped on how one was no mere guest? (5)
39 Stops tips (4)