Women, Peace & Security – Women in decision-making: COVID-19 and beyond

Abstract

Women are on the COVID-19 frontlines as healthcare workers, caretakers and community responders. In formal decision-making, however, women’s representation is far less visible. Only one in five parliamentary seats in Asia are held by women, and men hold the majority of health leadership positions. This gender disparity has been further highlighted during the COVID-19 crisis when, with very few exceptions, women are overwhelmingly missing from pandemic response and recovery decision-making.

While data suggests that the COVID-19 mortality rate for men is higher, the pandemic is having disproportionate effects on women and girls who are facing increased challenges in accessing healthcare services, are at a higher risk of losing their livelihoods, and are increasingly subjected to sexual and gender-based violence. It is now more important than ever to include women’s voices in decision-making to ensure gender equal leadership and gender-sensitive responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to build back a better, gender equal future.