Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Quarterly Newsletter

Regressions in gender equality threatens the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and needs a dedicated, bold effort that builds on our breakthroughs, our shortcomings and lessons learnt since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. COVID-19 has exacerbated existing inequalities across all aspects of life for women, girls and their communities.

The impact of lost education for children, especially girls, is likely to have permanent effects for many. The pandemic has also exacerbated gaps in women’s participation in decision-making. An analysis of COVID-19 task forces from 87 countries found that only 3.5 per cent of them had gender parity. As we look ahead to emerging from the crisis, aspects like parity in political representation take on increased urgency.

Women’s leadership and increased participation in decision making will be a cornerstone to sustain democratic values and enhance crisis management. Bold and ambitious change is needed. The pandemic must not in any way hinder the bold action needed for addressing gender equality and action is needed right now. The pandemic should not be a deterrent for equality and for all types of women’s participation.

This years’ International Women’s Day and the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) have also focused on women’s leadership. The priority theme recognizes how women and men can collectively solve the urgent challenges of our time through fast tracked, equal power-sharing in public life. This third edition of the newsletter thus will share good practices, knowledge and efforts by the AUC, UNECA and UN Women to drive this priority themes to galvanize women’s leadership and other relevant GEWE agendas in the first quarter of 2021.