CARE International released a new report Building Forward: Creating a More Equitable, Gender-Just, Inclusive, and Sustainable World.
The report demonstrates how women and girls worldwide – particularly those affected by systemic inequalities – are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s socioeconomic impacts.
Women make up the majority of health and social care workers around the world, and are 1.8 times more likely to have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. Meanwhile, women and girls’ unpaid care work is predicted to have risen by 1 to 2 hours per day.
Calls to domestic violence hotlines have risen 60% to 775% in some countries since the pandemic began. Lockdowns have also caused global food insecurity to soar, which particularly affects the ability of women and girls in humanitarian settings to access nutritious food.
At the same time, responses to the pandemic provide an opportunity to build forward and to create a more equal world. To do so, policy makers must include the voices and leadership of women and girls in the design of COVID-19 recovery policies or political action.
“COVID-19 response and recovery is an opportunity to build a more equal world for everyone,” said Barbara Grantham, CARE Canada President and CEO. “But we cannot afford to wait – to achieve this vision, we must act now. By including women and girls in the decision-making process, we can help to ensure that gender equal priorities are reflected in our economic, humanitarian, and environmental recovery policies.”
Rebuilding more equitable economies and societies can in turn support a strong pandemic recovery. The report finds that prioritizing women’s economic opportunities can stimulate global gross domestic product (GDP) growth by US $5 trillion. However, if existing issues are not addressed, the global GDP could decrease by US $1 trillion by 2030.
Timed to coincide with the UN’s High-Level Meeting on Beijing +25 and gender equality, the report calls on decision makers worldwide to use the recovery from COVID-19 to build the political momentum needed towards a better, more just, and sustainable future.
The report provides critical guidance as the Government of Canada sets out to implement new investments aimed at creating a greener economy, while supporting development and humanitarian needs around the world.
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Lama Alsafimedia@care.ca | 613-228-5641
About CARE Canada:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE develops solutions alongside women and girls in developing countries to lift themselves, their families, and their communities out of poverty and out of crisis. CARE stands with women and girls around the world in economic empowerment. We bring women, girls, and their communities together to challenge inequality while facing issues like food insecurity, climate change, and emergency relief in times of crisis or disaster. CARE works in 100 countries around the world.
To learn more about CARE Canada, visit www.care.ca