Grateful to @giwps and @MelanneVerveer for a virtual discussion women peacebuilders on several continents on COVID-19.

A thread on what they’re seeing, and their wise words:

The always wonderful @Rajaa_Altalli at @ccsdsyria talked of added risks to detainees in Syria who are already in atrocious conditions, and of impacts on other vulnerable communities. Must resume peace process, and it must be more inclusive of women.

In Myanmar, @waiwainu said that in camps, social distancing is a luxury (average 6 ppl in one 10x10 foot tent). Even hand washing is a luxury - even if have soap, not enough water. Also limited access to internet feeds anxiety and misinfo. People very worried about starvation.

In Goma, @ChouchouDRC reminds that on top of COVID-19 Ebola is also back (5 new cases in last 2 weeks). There are still attacks on civilians in East. Very worried about food chain disruption and potential famine coming.

In Ukraine, Oksana Potapova says no COVID data from unpatrolled areas, where majority of ppl are of pension age (high risk). Big increase in domestic violence. Also early reports of disproportionate firing of women from workforce.

So what can be done? As always, women peacebuilders have wise suggestion for short-term responses and long-term transformation. Too many for me to capture, but here are a few:

From @ChouchouDRC:
- learn from Ebola crisis to involve communities in response. Eg Int’l orgs use term “facemasks”: Unfamiliar = confusion. Community orgs use local lang to “cover nose and mouth”.
- Her org is texting “adapted farming advice” to women farmers to prevent famine

From @waiwainu in Myanmar:
- end the war!
- remove internet blackout in Rakhine state and give women access to devices
- allow humanitarian access
- don’t restrict access to health care based in ethnicity
- don’t use pandemic to justify human rights violations

From @Rajaa_Altalli on Syria:
- find creative ways to support Syrian civil society
- close gap of access to technology so information can spread and women can organize
- RELEASE DETAINEES

From Okasana Potapova in Ukraine:
- use the feminist analysis of COVID that several orgs are now doing
- change from discourse on war against COVID to discourse about care and equality
- invest in women orgs, advocates, and scholars - not only in women doing front line care

The whole thing will be posted soon by @giwps. Thanks again to organizers and speakers.