The COVID-19 pandemic is not just a health issue. It is a profound shock to our societies and economies, and women are at the heart of care and response efforts underway.
As frontline responders, health professionals, community volunteers, transport and logistics managers, scientists and more, women are making critical contributions to address the outbreak every day.
The majority of caregivers, at home and in our communities, are also women.
Additionally, they are at increased risk of infection and loss of livelihood, and existing trends point to less access to sexual and reproductive health and rise in domestic violence during crisis.
UN Women is bringing up-to-date information and analysis on how and why gender matters in COVID-19 response.
UN Women is working to provide support to all women on the frontlines of the fight against this pandemic; promoting flexible working arrangements for women with a burden of care; and prioritising services to prevent gender-based domestic violence. Now you too, can help them.
The shadow pandemic: violence against women
If you, or someone you know, are experience domestic violence, you are not alone. Contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 support.
UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, today launched the Shadow Pandemic public awareness campaign, focusing on the global increase in domestic violence amid the COVID-19 health crisis. The Shadow Pandemic public service announcement is a sixty-second film narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Kate Winslet, who has championed many humanitarian causes. The video highlights the alarming upsurge in domestic violence during COVID-19 and delivers a vital message urging people to act to support women if they know or suspect someone is experiencing violence. See full press release ►
Read more about the Shadow Pandemic here.
News and Stories
Read more stories here.
Videos
Watch more COVID-19 videos here.
What our leaders are saying
- Secretary General’s remarks on COVID-19 crisis
- Gender-Based Violence and COVID-19 – UN Secretary-General’s video message
- Op-ed: How COVID-19 can bring gender justice – By Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director and Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Gender
- COVID-19: Women front and centre – Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director
- Checklist for COVID-19 response – By UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér
- Women and COVID-19: Five things governments can do right now – By UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia
- Statement on the response to COVID-19 in the Asia and Pacific Region – From Mohammad Naciri, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific
