Nine months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that lockdowns all around the world have placed women and girls at greater risk of sexual violence and exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, forced labour, and social exclusion. But our true understanding of how COVID-19 has affected gender-based violence remains obscured because of data gaps. Data collection on these issues is complex and rife with sensitivities, and governments have historically not made sufficient investment in the data we need to understand the true extent and impact of violence on women and girls. This is slowly changing, but concerted effort and investment are still needed to be able to analyse and act on the multiple and intersecting forms of gender-based discrimination.
Throughout November, advocates for feminist change will be mobilizing around the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which kicks off on 25 November and runs until 10 December (culminating in Human Rights Day). Join our campaign and call on your governments to take action against all violence against women and girls.
To stay on track to realize the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 for every woman and every girl, we need to act now and act fast.
