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The #HRC44 panel discussion on women's rights and COVID-19 has started. Follow it live at http://webtv.un.org/live
Peggy Hicks ( @UNHumanRights) highlights the "pandemic within the pandemic" of domestic violence against women and girls, and stresses that the crisis only magnifies pre-existing discrimination against women, especially those who face multiple and intersecting oppressions. #HRC44
Both @HicksPeggy and @AranchaGlezLaya highlight the disproportionate and increased burden of unpaid care work on women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and stress the urgency and decisiveness of States' action for gender equality. #HRC44
. @oeditar from @feminist_centre in Kenya also points to increases in sexual & gender-based violence & in teenage pregnancy due to lack of access to safe abortion and #SRHR information & services. Women, the usual breadwinners, are feeling the economic impact of COVID-19. #HRC44
. @Atayeshe refers to @UNFPA work on COVID-19 (e.g. https://www.unfpa.org/resources/covid-19-gender-lens), finding increased exposure of women and girls to violence & femicide, barriers to #SRHR services, systemic racism, and impact of the crisis on girls' education & on isolated older women. #HRC44
. @Jayati1609 highlights the impact of COVID-19 on women working in the informal economy, women health and care workers without adequate protective equipment, migrant care and domestic workers who are the most exposed. #HRC44
. @Jayati1609: #COVID19 is compounding the food crisis, climate change and environmental crises. We need economic recovery, regulation and redistribution, and we need to change factors of production and consumption for more sustainability. #HRC44
. @Jayati1609: we must also focus on reducing and addressing inequalities based on race, gender, ethnicity, caste, age, location, etc. #HRC44 #COVID19
. @phumzileunwomen calls on States to involve women & feminist organizations in #COVID19 response and its evaluation, and to implement the recommendations of the #CEDAW Committee and ensure women's participation at all levels of policy and decision-making. #HRC44
Many States taking the floor this morning recognize that the #COVID19 crisis only makes pre-existing discrimination and oppressions visible. But patriarchy and gender inequality are not immutable facts of life; States' #humanrights obligations include its eradication. #HRC44
Calls for women's participation in decision-making should extend to the #HRC. While some measures this session have increased opportunities for remote participation, the timing, travel restrictions, time zone issues & pre-existing barriers to participation in the Council remain.
See also our joint statements on #CSO participation at #HRC44: https://twitter.com/AWID/status/1281204475600998402?s=20
And many of the statements today directly contradict the trends we see of States #CapitalizingOnCOVID, as we stated in our #HRC44 statement on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association: https://twitter.com/SexualRights/status/1281518786231898112?s=20
