Female leaders absent from global response to virus

THERE is a “global absence” of women in leadership roles in the response to the coronavirus, research has shown.

Women made up only 24 per cent of national response committees, according to a survey of 30 countries by the charity Care International.

The poll also showed that governments with lower levels of female leadership risked failing to consider the disproportionate impact the pandemic was having on women and girls.

The figures follow a UN report last month showing lockdown measures had led to an increase in gender-based violence worldwide and had “seriously affected” the economic opportunities of women.

Care’s analysis found 14 countries including the UK and New Zealand, led by Jacinda Ardern, have taken action on domestic abuse during the pandemic by announcing new policies.

But only Canada has made funding and policy commitments that “specifically recognise the economic effect of the pandemic on women”, Care said.

The charity said government at all levels “must increase women’s leadership in formal decision-making spaces and the humanitarian community must support localised, women-led responses”.