Event information

29 April 2020, 15:00-16:30

Right On – Women and COVID-19: The Gendered Impact of the Crisis

Right On

 It has become clear in recent weeks that this pandemic and the concurrent economic crisis is impacting women differently than men.

Women, who already shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care work, have come under even more pressure as schools and daycares have closed. Many are also at an increased risk of exposure to the virus, since they work on the frontlines of our global effort against the pandemic, providing essential medical and other services. In the future, they are also more likely to be disproportionately affected by the economic shocks that will follow the pandemic, as they represent a higher percentage of persons in precarious, informal, or poorly paid work.

Additionally, the current lockdown orders, which are in place in a majority of the world’s States is likely to exacerbate the incidences of domestic violence at a time when shelters are closing and women can’t leave their homes.

Our Wednesday ‘Right On’ web chat will highlight key women’s rights concerns during the pandemic, and look to develop recommendations for how governments can mitigate the negative impact of their crisis policies on women. Finally, the discussion will aim to identify opportunities to ‘build back better’ from the crisis and re-energise progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 and gender equality.

Moderation

  • Anniken Enersen, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Norway in Geneva

Speakers

  • Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Monica Ferro, Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Geneva
  • Liera Socorro Flores, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva

Registration

To join the discussion, you need to register here.

‘Right On’: The Wednesday Web Chat

‘Right On’ is a new digital initiative – co-organized by the Geneva Academy, the Geneva Human Rights Platform, the Geneva Internet Platform, the DiploFoundation, the Universal Right Group, the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, the Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project, UNFPA, the World Jewish Congress, as well as the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands to the United Nations in Geneva – that will keep the human rights dialogue going during these COVID-19 times.

Every Wednesday at 15:00, experts and practitioners will discuss key human rights issues related to the current health crisis.

Video

Right On – Women and COVID-19: The Gendered Impact of the Crisis

In this fourth event of the ‘Right On’ digital initiative, panelists discussed the gendered impact of the COVID-19 crisis with Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Right On Partners

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

SIDS Training GHRP News

Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures Strengthens SIDS/LDCs Engagement

21 July 2025

Sixteen diplomats from fifteen Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries participated in a two-day Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures.

Read more

MENA Training GHRP News

Strengthening MENA Engagement with UN Human Rights Mechanisms: Second Edition of our Tailored Training

24 July 2025

Participants from six countries across the Middle East and North Africa region joined our customized training on the Geneva-based United Nations human rights mechanisms

Read more

Session of the UN Human Rights Committee Project

Treaty Body Review 2020 and Beyond

Started in January 2018

The Geneva Human Rights Platform contributes to this review process by providing expert input via different avenues, by facilitating dialogue on the review among various stakeholders, as well as by accompanying the development of a follow-up resolution to 68/268 in New York and in Geneva.

Read more

Panel Discussion: Project

Treaty Body Members’ Platform

Started in January 2014

The Treaty Body Members’ Platform connects experts in UN treaty bodies with each other as well as with Geneva-based practitioners, academics and diplomats to share expertise, exchange views on topical questions and develop synergies.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more