The Global Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls

Sep 16, 2020 | Hannah Chosid
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“As we face a global pandemic that has taken the lives of more than 800,000 people as of right now around the world, we certainly have to recognize the particular impacts that that has had on women and girls and their lives,” said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), at a recent event hosted by CARE and UNFPA about the global impact of COVID-19 on women and girls. While women make up 70-80 percent of frontline healthcare workers globally, they have also been disproportionately affected during the pandemic by increased rates of gender-based violence, lack of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, and economic and food insecurity.

Verónica Simán, Representative from UNFPA Colombia, noted that there has been a 148 percent increase in gender-based violence during the quarantine period compared to the same period last year. She also said that due to fear of infection, women are afraid to seek health services and reproductive healthcare has become secondary for many women. In response, UNFPA has worked to increase access to reproductive healthcare through virtual services and a telephone helpline for healthcare professionals to consult experts about sexual health services and gender-based violence concerns.