Data of COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker by UNDP & UN Women Released

In accordance with the data released from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker, which is co-created by the United Nations (UN) Women and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), only 1 in 8 countries have measures in place to shield women and girls from COVID-19 pandemic effects.  

• The Global Gender Response Tracker analyzes more than 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories under the three categories of addressing gender-based violence, supporting unpaid care, and strengthening women’s economic security. 
• It aims to supports governments in making the right policy decisions by sharing good practices and monitoring progress in care policies and measures to address violence against women.

Key Points:

–One-fifth of the countries analyzed (42 countries) don’t have “gender-aware” COVID-19 responses. Only 12% of the world (25 countries) has introduced measures that covered all three areas of the tracker.

–Only 25 countries have introduced measures aimed at tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care and strengthen women’s economic security. 

–Gender-based violence is one of the great threats against women during the pandemic. 

–71% across 135 countries have focused on tackling gender-based violence. 

–Europe is leading the response when it comes to addressing gender-based violence and accounted for nearly 32% of all violence measures put into place. 

–Only 10% of countries had measures that aimed to strengthen women’s economic security. The North American continent had the largest number of measures aimed at supporting women’s economic security, followed by Africa.

–Women spend three times as many hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men, and even more if they have young children.

—During the COVID-19 pandemic, less than a third of countries took action to support unpaid care and strengthen care for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities, the tracker showed. Europe is ahead in implementing unpaid care assistance and accounted for 49% of all unpaid care measures on the tracker.

Recent Related News:

i.India-UNDP fund managed by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and the guidelines of the Sustainable development goals(SDG) processed the “Strengthening national Health capacities and reducing socio-economic and human development negative impacts of COVID19 crisis in Antigua and Barbuda” proposed by the government of Antigua and Barbuda for assistance and collaboration.

ii.The Chamber of Marathwada Industries and Agriculture (CMIA) has joined hands with UNDP to set up a help desk for MSMEs (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises) for providing information on various government safety guidelines, regulatory norms, schemes and support measures during the Covid-19 related business challenges pandemic by hosting regular webinars, consultation and interactive sessions for MSMEs.

About United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):
Administrator– Achim Steiner
Headquarter– New York, United States (US)

About United Nations Women:
Executive Director -Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Headquarter– New York, United States (US)