Webinar series on gender-sensitive responses to the COVID-19 crisis

The COVID-19 global pandemic will have long-term consequences for our societies and the global economy. It is imperative to implement a gender-sensitive approach in the responses to the pandemic and in the recovery phase - to make these measures more effective and ensure that no one is left behind. The European Commission thus launched a series of webinars on gender equality aspects of the COVID-19 crisis, as part of the Mutual Learning Programme in Gender Equality. Although the problems are similar, Member States may be tackling them in different ways. The webinar series provided an opportunity for sharing and discussing different approaches and possibilities.

The events were organised in the framework of the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and addressed its main pillars - Free, Thrive and Lead.

Relevant materials:

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  The European Institute for Gender Equality’s dedicated website on COVID-19 and gender equality
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  The Commission’s Horizon 2020 “Gendered Innovations” Expert Group’s case study on The impact of sex and gender in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
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  The Commission’s Joint Research Centre’s report: How will the COVID-19 crisis affect existing gender divides in Europe?
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  European Women’s Lobby’s policy brief: Putting equality between women and men at the heart of the response to COVID-19 across Europe

Webinar 1: Good practices for tackling domestic violence in the context of COVID-19

The webinar that took place on 19 May 2020 featured good practice examples from Member States addressing different aspects of tackling domestic violence in the context of COVID-19: the implementation of a comprehensive strategy (Spain); tools and actions facilitating victims seeking help and reporting violence (the Czech Republic) and how to continue the work with perpetrators during a lockdown (Slovenia).

In the webinar it was stressed that establishing domestic violence services as essential services is an important foundation for supporting victims and helping services to adapt to the challenges posed by the crisis and the subsequent recovery phase. Awareness raising, communication and outreach initiatives, that reach victims in all their diversity and ensure they are aware of the available protection measures and support services, are also key.

Relevant materials:

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  The European e-Justice Portal’s “Victims of crime - support and protection during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic” section
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  The Council of Europe dedicated resource page on national measures taken to prevent and combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, and to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on equality between women and men
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  WAVE policy statement on COVID-19 and violence against women and girls

The webinar series is ongoing. More information about the subsequent webinars, addressing the Thrive and Lead pillars of the Gender Equality Strategy, will be available on this website in due course.