Building Forward Better Women's Leadership and Participation in COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

Author: Trisha Albay

Representatives from governments, the private sector, CSOs, NGOs and youth networks come together to participate in the Regional Dialogue on COVID-19 Recovery in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: UN Women/Ploy Phutpheng

Bangkok, Thailand — Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic was formally declared, the Asia-Pacific region continues to confront burgeoning social and economic impacts that have had profound implications on gender equality. Women are disproportionately affected due to increased risks for gender-based violence and unequal distribution of care and domestic work, among others.

Yet, women have not been included as much as men in creating policies to respond to and recover from the pandemic. Moreover, policy response mechanisms do not incorporate gender analytical data or gender-responsive plans.

“Despite challenges, the pandemic has also provided unique opportunities. It demonstrated the effectiveness of women’s leadership and the power of solidarity and collective action. We have seen how women and communities have come together to support each other, from organizing mutual aid activities to advocating for policy changes. Women and women-led organizations have stepped up and were at the forefront of innovative solutions to fill critical gaps in services and support marginalized and vulnerable communities,” said Sarah Knibbs, Regional Director a.i. of UN Women in Asia and the Pacific, in her opening remarks.

To promote women's participation and leadership in COVID-19 response and recovery, UN Women organized the “Regional Dialogue on COVID-19 Recovery: Building Forward Better Women's Leadership and Participation” with support from the Government of Japan.

[second from left] Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, Networking and Collaboration Office at the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability, lends her voice in the session on intersectionality in COVID-19 recovery efforts. Photo: UN Women/Ploy Phutpheng

On 15-16 March, over 100 participants from governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the United Nations came together to exchange experiences and best practices in putting women, in all their diversity, at the center of COVID-19 recovery efforts.

Over the course of the dialogue, ten sessions were held, each focusing on one of three themes: the impacts and lessons learnt from the COVID-19 response, the current state of gender integration in recovery efforts, and what actions are still needed to ensure successful recovery going forward.

Supaanong Panyasirimongkol, Networking and Collaboration Office at the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability, was among those who lent their voices. During the session on intersectionality in COVID-19 recovery efforts, she emphasized how people with autism struggled during the pandemic. “Intensive social protection services in outreach and remote areas are crucial to overcoming the pandemic for all people in the community,” she added.

“Looking beyond the COVID-19 crisis, I hope that the dialogue discussions can further build on lessons learnt and help identify additional ways toward building a more resilient society with women’s leadership and participation in this region,” said Yuichi Oba, Deputy Chief of Mission, Minister and Permanent Representative of Japan to UNESCAP.

See Also

• Programme Agenda