Gender Alert on COVID-19 in Afghanistan | Issue VII: Women’s participation and leadership in COVID-19 Response

This alert focuses on why women’s leadership and meaningful participation is not only required from a rights-based approach, but also why it can lead to more sustainable responses to crisis that build longer term peace and stability. Generally, the exclusion of women from participating in the design, development, and implementation of crisis responses or, for example in peace and security processes, is rooted in pre-existing gender inequalities and patterns of exclusion.

It details the evidence demonstrating why and how women’s participation and leadership leads to effective, and sustainable approaches in crisis and conflict affected countries, including as it relates to COVID-19.

This alert concludes with a set of recommendations for consideration by national and international stakeholders.