Ensure gender-responsive Covid-19 relief efforts

Inspired by feminist and human rights principles, the Gender Monitoring Network facilitated by UN Women, called the Government of Bangladesh, through a press release, to ensure a gender-responsive, human rights-based inclusive response to Covid-19.

The 12-point call for action is endorsed by Ain O Salish Kendra, Bandhu, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh Nari Sromik Kendra, Bindu, Christian Aid, Light House, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Naripokkho, and Prottoy Unnayan Shongstha.

The signatories called on the government to declare gender-based violence (GBV) response services essential and life-saving, and allocate additional resources to ensure continued operation of justice, health and social services for women who are affected or at-risk. It also called on the government to ensure women and girls in marginalised communities have access to public health messaging as well as GBV prevention and response messages, including on child marriage.

In addition, the government must take necessary actions to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse in quarantine and isolation centres and during relief distribution.

Besides, the government must design economic response and recovery packages with a gendered lens and assess their impact on women and men. At the same time, the government should urgently expand the existing social safety net and cash transfer programmes targeting the newly vulnerable women, girls and gender-diverse people to ensure food security.

The network also focused on paying attention to the role women are playing as frontline health workers and community health workers.