UN: 'Women are essential in the fight against the pandemic'

The full participation of women is essential for an effective response to the Covid-19 pandemic and also in the advancement of peace processes, notes a report released on Monday at the UN.

UN Women and the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs launched a joint policy brief with a series of recommendations in this regard, including better rebuilding after the pandemic with a gender focus.

The brief also provides a preliminary analysis of the impact of the novel coronavirus on women's participation in ceasefires and peace processes.

In support of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for a global ceasefire, the report stresses the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in such efforts.

As the president of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande warned in July, advances in gender equality are greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and this may mean a significant setback worldwide if inaction in this regard continues.

As part of measures to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, schools were closed and essential resources for women's health were redirected towards the response to the pandemic, Guterres indicated.