Sunday, 24 May 2020

Women, most victims of social-economic effects of COVID 19- UN


By ANN ZULU


Lusaka, Zambia



COVID-19 is increasing poverty particularly among women and girls, Special Envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region Huang Xia has observed.

Mr Xia said women were the most victims of the social-economic effects of the pandemic.

He said this when he chaired the 12th session meeting of the Advisory Board for Women, Peace and Security for the Great Lakes Region which was conducted via video conference with members from several countries.

The meeting set its agenda to include mobilization of the regional and international community to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and to preserve the achievements recorded in relation to the Women, Peace and Security component; participation of women in the political and electoral process in the region; and engagement of member states to ensure prevention, protection and economic recovery and implementation of the Regional Action Plan.

It also reviewed the operationalization of the Regional Action Plan of resolution 2000 of the Great Lakes Region and examined the role of Gender Ministers in national, regional and international response to the ongoing health crisis as well as participation of women in forthcoming elections.

Participants of the 12th session meeting of the Advisory Board for Women, Peace and Security for the Great Lakes Region



Mr Xia urged members of the board to redouble their efforts to stimulate advocacy actions at local, national and regional levels towards not only prevention and protection, but also socio-economic transformation which would take into account the priorities of women and girls in all countries of the Great Lakes region during the COVID 19 pandemic.

And Members of the Advisory Board pledged to champion the interests of women and girls.

Gender in International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Director and member of the advisory board Eliane Mokodopo noted that most women in the great lakes region could not provide family basic needs such as food and health services during this period.


“Women are the most active in business, especially informal sector. When borders are closed, and movements restricted, they cannot generate income," Ms Mokodopo said.

The board also made recommendations to Governments in the region to sensitize men and women to share responsibilities and tasks at home to reduce the heavy domestic work normally done by women.

They also suggested putting in place strategies to secure fund for women in order to allow them restart their financial activities when countries start the new normal.

The Advisory Board for Women, Peace and Security for the Great Lakes Region which Zambia is part of, was initiated in 2013 under the support of the office of the UN special Envoy to provide recommendations on issues related to women, peace and security.

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