WEBVTT 00:00:07.195 --> 00:00:10.050 align:middle line:84% So I want to start by looking at the immediate impact 00:00:10.050 --> 00:00:12.160 align:middle line:90% this crisis is having on women. 00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.370 align:middle line:84% We know that UN figures show 70 per cent 00:00:14.370 --> 00:00:17.350 align:middle line:84% of health and social sector workers globally are women. 00:00:17.350 --> 00:00:20.710 align:middle line:84% So what impact is this having on women on the front line? 00:00:20.710 --> 00:00:24.690 align:middle line:84% Well, women on the front line, obviously, 00:00:24.690 --> 00:00:28.950 align:middle line:90% exposed to the disease. 00:00:28.950 --> 00:00:34.410 align:middle line:84% Most of them are nurses who are handling the patients. 00:00:34.410 --> 00:00:37.560 align:middle line:84% And in this situation where countries are running out 00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:41.310 align:middle line:84% of PPE they are, obviously, in the front line, 00:00:41.310 --> 00:00:44.040 align:middle line:90% without adequate protection. 00:00:44.040 --> 00:00:45.840 align:middle line:84% Women are also working long hours. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:48.450 align:middle line:84% But all of the health workers are men and women. 00:00:48.450 --> 00:00:50.910 align:middle line:84% They are therefore, very exhausted. 00:00:50.910 --> 00:00:53.290 align:middle line:84% And they go home to continue to be 00:00:53.290 --> 00:00:56.580 align:middle line:84% caregivers to their families and their children. 00:00:56.580 --> 00:00:59.400 align:middle line:84% And the level of exhaustion means 00:00:59.400 --> 00:01:03.180 align:middle line:84% that they need a lot of support to cope with the stress. 00:01:03.180 --> 00:01:06.660 align:middle line:84% They also use public transport in many cases 00:01:06.660 --> 00:01:10.310 align:middle line:84% because in most health institutions 00:01:10.310 --> 00:01:12.420 align:middle line:84% they are at the lower levels, which 00:01:12.420 --> 00:01:15.900 align:middle line:84% means that their pay does not enable many of them 00:01:15.900 --> 00:01:18.330 align:middle line:84% to have their own private transport. 00:01:18.330 --> 00:01:20.190 align:middle line:84% That means that in public transport 00:01:20.190 --> 00:01:24.855 align:middle line:84% they are also exposed to potential infection. 00:01:24.855 --> 00:01:26.940 align:middle line:84% So you mentioned some of the sort of risks 00:01:26.940 --> 00:01:28.470 align:middle line:84% that they face to their own health. 00:01:28.470 --> 00:01:31.280 align:middle line:84% And what about on the socio-economic level? 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:34.140 align:middle line:84% This has had a huge impact on society as a whole. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:37.320 align:middle line:84% But given that more women work in unsecured jobs, 00:01:37.320 --> 00:01:39.090 align:middle line:84% or in the informal economy, especially 00:01:39.090 --> 00:01:40.740 align:middle line:84% in developing countries, what does 00:01:40.740 --> 00:01:42.845 align:middle line:90% that financial impact on them? 00:01:42.845 --> 00:01:46.110 align:middle line:84% Basically, means that women are driven to poverty 00:01:46.110 --> 00:01:49.590 align:middle line:84% because they do not have the means to look after themselves 00:01:49.590 --> 00:01:52.470 align:middle line:90% and their families. 00:01:52.470 --> 00:01:55.470 align:middle line:84% If they are self-employed they usually 00:01:55.470 --> 00:02:01.080 align:middle line:84% do not have an easy conduit and a connection to the government 00:02:01.080 --> 00:02:04.330 align:middle line:84% and other providers of the stimulus that 00:02:04.330 --> 00:02:06.000 align:middle line:90% could support them. 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:07.920 align:middle line:84% But we are also saying if there's 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:11.360 align:middle line:84% going to be social protection and cash transfers, 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:15.090 align:middle line:84% these transfers must go directly to the hands of women 00:02:15.090 --> 00:02:18.660 align:middle line:84% in order to make sure that they are not lost in the family. 00:02:18.660 --> 00:02:20.550 align:middle line:84% They actually enabled the women to be 00:02:20.550 --> 00:02:23.790 align:middle line:84% the one that is in control of these resources. 00:02:23.790 --> 00:02:26.500 align:middle line:84% Even if women are in the formal sector 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:29.020 align:middle line:84% they are still informal, if you know what I'm saying. 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:31.150 align:middle line:84% Because if they are waitresses sometimes 00:02:31.150 --> 00:02:35.070 align:middle line:84% they have the contracts that are not in any way 00:02:35.070 --> 00:02:37.140 align:middle line:90% binding to the employer. 00:02:37.140 --> 00:02:39.310 align:middle line:84% If they work in the tourism sector 00:02:39.310 --> 00:02:41.700 align:middle line:84% it's also a very loose arrangement. 00:02:41.700 --> 00:02:45.210 align:middle line:84% So they are not accounted for as workers. 00:02:45.210 --> 00:02:47.190 align:middle line:90% It's not secured employment. 00:02:47.190 --> 00:02:51.510 align:middle line:84% So when there are the provisions and employment benefits, 00:02:51.510 --> 00:02:55.320 align:middle line:84% these benefits do not automatically accrue to them. 00:02:55.320 --> 00:02:58.230 align:middle line:84% And then women, as you know, in many African countries, 00:02:58.230 --> 00:03:00.600 align:middle line:90% also work in agriculture. 00:03:00.600 --> 00:03:04.890 align:middle line:84% In that sector, also, there isn't adequate protection. 00:03:04.890 --> 00:03:07.560 align:middle line:84% Amid all the government bailouts and the stimulus packages that 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:09.750 align:middle line:84% we've seen, are you seeing any examples 00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:12.630 align:middle line:84% where they are, where those measures are addressing women 00:03:12.630 --> 00:03:16.010 align:middle line:84% specifically in the needs that you just talked about? 00:03:16.010 --> 00:03:18.000 align:middle line:90% Well, it's a mixed bag. 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:22.730 align:middle line:84% There definitely are governments who are targeting women. 00:03:22.730 --> 00:03:26.180 align:middle line:84% And the packages are meant to be for women. 00:03:26.180 --> 00:03:27.920 align:middle line:84% South Africa is one of those countries 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:30.740 align:middle line:90% where they are doing that. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:34.490 align:middle line:84% But where they have a generic SMME package, 00:03:34.490 --> 00:03:38.690 align:middle line:84% a generic informal sector, it is not automatic 00:03:38.690 --> 00:03:41.795 align:middle line:84% that the women will be a beneficiary. 00:03:41.795 --> 00:03:44.000 align:middle line:84% And what about the global leadership in this? 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:46.250 align:middle line:84% I have more UN women, UN figures here showing 00:03:46.250 --> 00:03:48.440 align:middle line:84% that 25 per cent of parliamentarians 00:03:48.440 --> 00:03:51.620 align:middle line:84% worldwide are women, and only 10 per cent of heads of government 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:54.080 align:middle line:84% and heads of state are women worldwide. 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.540 align:middle line:84% Are there enough female leaders making 00:03:56.540 --> 00:04:00.425 align:middle line:84% the decisions about how to respond to the Covid-19 crisis? 00:04:00.425 --> 00:04:02.190 align:middle line:90% Well, definitely. 00:04:02.190 --> 00:04:05.810 align:middle line:84% Let alone, just women who are heads of state, just 00:04:05.810 --> 00:04:09.650 align:middle line:84% women in the health sector who are decision-makers, 00:04:09.650 --> 00:04:13.230 align:middle line:84% notwithstanding that the majority of the women, 00:04:13.230 --> 00:04:16.279 align:middle line:84% of the people who work in the health sector are women. 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:18.500 align:middle line:84% And there are lots of competent women. 00:04:18.500 --> 00:04:22.640 align:middle line:84% This is one sector where we cannot complain about 00:04:22.640 --> 00:04:25.970 align:middle line:84% a pipeline that doesn't have people who can take senior 00:04:25.970 --> 00:04:26.810 align:middle line:90% position. 00:04:26.810 --> 00:04:30.620 align:middle line:84% You could look for yourself when you listen to briefings 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.150 align:middle line:90% from different countries. 00:04:32.150 --> 00:04:35.480 align:middle line:84% Most of the time it is not women who are talking. 00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:37.670 align:middle line:84% Women are not the ones who are framing 00:04:37.670 --> 00:04:40.070 align:middle line:90% the response to the pandemic. 00:04:40.070 --> 00:04:42.230 align:middle line:84% And we think this is the time to address 00:04:42.230 --> 00:04:45.620 align:middle line:84% the issue of representation of women in the health sector, 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:48.050 align:middle line:84% because medium to long term women 00:04:48.050 --> 00:04:50.570 align:middle line:84% are still going to be in the majority of those who are 00:04:50.570 --> 00:04:52.610 align:middle line:90% leading in the health sector. 00:04:52.610 --> 00:04:55.460 align:middle line:84% Have you seen examples of where leaders have specifically 00:04:55.460 --> 00:04:58.310 align:middle line:84% addressed that some women, that women in some ways 00:04:58.310 --> 00:05:00.320 align:middle line:84% are disproportionately affected by this crisis? 00:05:00.320 --> 00:05:01.895 align:middle line:90% Have you seen that? 00:05:01.895 --> 00:05:03.320 align:middle line:90% It's not strong enough. 00:05:03.320 --> 00:05:05.360 align:middle line:84% And the sector in general has already 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.600 align:middle line:84% used one of the global leaders that has already been calling 00:05:08.600 --> 00:05:11.210 align:middle line:90% for that to be given attention. 00:05:11.210 --> 00:05:14.750 align:middle line:84% What we are asking governments to do and leaders in general, 00:05:14.750 --> 00:05:17.510 align:middle line:84% for instance, on the case of violence against women, 00:05:17.510 --> 00:05:21.380 align:middle line:84% is to make those who are providing services to women 00:05:21.380 --> 00:05:23.360 align:middle line:90% who are affected by violence. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:27.290 align:middle line:84% Those services, must be declared essential service 00:05:27.290 --> 00:05:30.470 align:middle line:84% so that they are accessible throughout this crisis. 00:05:30.470 --> 00:05:33.770 align:middle line:84% We are also asking that there is better investment 00:05:33.770 --> 00:05:37.370 align:middle line:84% into those service providers, be they 00:05:37.370 --> 00:05:41.300 align:middle line:84% NGO, or government, or churches, or youth, 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:43.940 align:middle line:84% or community crossroads, because they are really 00:05:43.940 --> 00:05:47.570 align:middle line:84% providing a service that is very critical at this time. 00:05:47.570 --> 00:05:51.740 align:middle line:84% And this is the service that cannot be delayed because every 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:55.310 align:middle line:84% day we delay providing this is an essential service, 00:05:55.310 --> 00:05:56.568 align:middle line:90% a woman is at risk. 00:05:56.568 --> 00:05:58.360 align:middle line:84% And I was just going to ask you about that. 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.550 align:middle line:84% I've seen - obviously, one of the horrible side effects 00:06:01.550 --> 00:06:03.980 align:middle line:84% of this crisis - is a lot of reports 00:06:03.980 --> 00:06:05.900 align:middle line:84% of an increase in domestic violence. 00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:08.360 align:middle line:84% We've seen countries like Canada and France 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:11.210 align:middle line:84% announce financial support to house women, victims 00:06:11.210 --> 00:06:12.500 align:middle line:90% of domestic abuse. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:15.170 align:middle line:84% What more needs to happen now, and what will it 00:06:15.170 --> 00:06:17.510 align:middle line:84% take for leaders to listen to this 00:06:17.510 --> 00:06:19.490 align:middle line:84% and address it as an urgent problem? 00:06:19.490 --> 00:06:21.140 align:middle line:84% Well, we have to keep on talking. 00:06:21.140 --> 00:06:23.570 align:middle line:84% I'm glad that we are doing this with us. 00:06:23.570 --> 00:06:29.360 align:middle line:84% Essential service declaration, that is so urgent and so much 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:30.260 align:middle line:90% needed. 00:06:30.260 --> 00:06:35.850 align:middle line:84% Investment in those institutions that are providing the service. 00:06:35.850 --> 00:06:42.290 align:middle line:84% It's excellent that Canada, and France, and others are already 00:06:42.290 --> 00:06:47.870 align:middle line:84% providing more safe houses and shelter for the women. 00:06:47.870 --> 00:06:51.530 align:middle line:84% Hotlines are very critical because they are the ones 00:06:51.530 --> 00:06:56.030 align:middle line:84% that women can call in order to call and ask for help. 00:06:56.030 --> 00:06:58.220 align:middle line:84% And we have been able to gather a lot of data 00:06:58.220 --> 00:06:59.330 align:middle line:90% from the headlines. 00:06:59.330 --> 00:07:02.930 align:middle line:84% It tells you with the woman is, what the situation is. 00:07:02.930 --> 00:07:04.430 align:middle line:84% But we're also finding out that when 00:07:04.430 --> 00:07:07.200 align:middle line:84% women are calling to the hotlines 00:07:07.200 --> 00:07:09.960 align:middle line:84% they are also reporting that they are hungry, 00:07:09.960 --> 00:07:12.560 align:middle line:84% that they are being beaten up because their husband 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.300 align:middle line:90% or partner is hungry. 00:07:14.300 --> 00:07:17.780 align:middle line:84% And they expect her to be the one who's finding the food. 00:07:17.780 --> 00:07:20.480 align:middle line:84% So it is important that every country 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:24.300 align:middle line:84% must have the helpline that is attended by social workers. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:28.490 align:middle line:84% They also have to educate the police at this time 00:07:28.490 --> 00:07:33.170 align:middle line:84% to know how to respond and to make sure that when they're 00:07:33.170 --> 00:07:36.980 align:middle line:84% contacting the police, they do not get a run around that 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:38.585 align:middle line:90% leaves them frustrated. 00:07:38.585 --> 00:07:41.510 align:middle line:84% So it sounds like there are many parts to that solution. 00:07:41.510 --> 00:07:45.120 align:middle line:84% And the governments really need to address all of those factors 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:46.360 align:middle line:90% to solve this problem. 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:47.190 align:middle line:90% No, absolutely. 00:07:47.190 --> 00:07:51.860 align:middle line:84% And the cost of giving this support to women 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:57.350 align:middle line:84% compared to some of the costs that governments are attending 00:07:57.350 --> 00:08:02.850 align:middle line:84% to rescuing airlines, which I'm not saying is not important, 00:08:02.850 --> 00:08:05.000 align:middle line:84% but to the cost of servicing women 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:06.620 align:middle line:90% is a fraction of that cost. 00:08:06.620 --> 00:08:09.770 align:middle line:84% This is some of the interventions 00:08:09.770 --> 00:08:11.780 align:middle line:90% that can be done immediately. 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:13.815 align:middle line:90% And it is needed immediately. 00:08:13.815 --> 00:08:14.940 align:middle line:90% That's a really good point. 00:08:14.940 --> 00:08:16.897 align:middle line:84% And looking back at the bigger picture, what 00:08:16.897 --> 00:08:18.480 align:middle line:84% lessons do you think have been learned 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:19.840 align:middle line:90% from previous pandemics? 00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:22.390 align:middle line:84% So, for example, Ebola, that could be applied here 00:08:22.390 --> 00:08:25.200 align:middle line:84% to making sure that the issues that women are facing 00:08:25.200 --> 00:08:27.445 align:middle line:90% are being addressed more. 00:08:27.445 --> 00:08:29.890 align:middle line:84% Well, first, let me just talk about women 00:08:29.890 --> 00:08:34.270 align:middle line:84% who are migrants, who are also in a very difficult situation 00:08:34.270 --> 00:08:39.669 align:middle line:84% in the countries that they're in away from their countries. 00:08:39.669 --> 00:08:44.950 align:middle line:84% They are likely to be the ones that lose their jobs first. 00:08:44.950 --> 00:08:48.280 align:middle line:84% And they're left with no income, and far away 00:08:48.280 --> 00:08:50.340 align:middle line:84% from their relatives and loved ones. 00:08:50.340 --> 00:08:54.030 align:middle line:84% The remittances that these women, and in most cases 00:08:54.030 --> 00:08:58.090 align:middle line:84% are sent home to support families, to support children, 00:08:58.090 --> 00:08:59.800 align:middle line:90% to support old people. 00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:02.980 align:middle line:84% So their suffering is extended also 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:05.860 align:middle line:84% to the people they are supporting at home. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:09.970 align:middle line:84% And we are finding that in the countries where the women also 00:09:09.970 --> 00:09:14.920 align:middle line:84% do not have NGOs that are strong in advocacy, 00:09:14.920 --> 00:09:19.420 align:middle line:84% and they've got to advocate individually for themselves, 00:09:19.420 --> 00:09:24.070 align:middle line:84% their voices can fall into deaf ears. 00:09:24.070 --> 00:09:27.610 align:middle line:84% So the importance of having organised institutions 00:09:27.610 --> 00:09:30.700 align:middle line:84% that are raising their voices on behalf 00:09:30.700 --> 00:09:34.840 align:middle line:84% of those women who are not being heard becomes very critical. 00:09:34.840 --> 00:09:39.250 align:middle line:84% We also need to include women in the addressing of the issues 00:09:39.250 --> 00:09:40.570 align:middle line:90% and project that publicly. 00:09:40.570 --> 00:09:45.070 align:middle line:84% If you see all men talking about the pandemic 00:09:45.070 --> 00:09:48.100 align:middle line:84% you are giving the impression that women are not 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:49.360 align:middle line:90% doing anything. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.960 align:middle line:84% Women reject the fact that they just 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:55.630 align:middle line:84% should be seen just as victims because they are actually 00:09:55.630 --> 00:10:02.060 align:middle line:84% providing services, responses, and contributing just as much. 00:10:02.060 --> 00:10:04.990 align:middle line:84% So we need to create spaces for them 00:10:04.990 --> 00:10:07.960 align:middle line:84% to play a role in showing to the nation 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.740 align:middle line:84% that their just as skilled with supporting their communities 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:13.180 align:middle line:90% as everyone else. 00:10:13.180 --> 00:10:15.220 align:middle line:84% And just following on from that point, what 00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:17.865 align:middle line:84% about the role in data in all this. 00:10:17.865 --> 00:10:19.240 align:middle line:84% The figures that we see every day 00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.790 align:middle line:84% are more focused on number of deaths and infections. 00:10:21.790 --> 00:10:24.940 align:middle line:84% But what about data in relation to the knock-on effects 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:26.640 align:middle line:90% for women of this crisis? 00:10:26.640 --> 00:10:28.330 align:middle line:84% Is there a lack of that data, and is 00:10:28.330 --> 00:10:30.347 align:middle line:90% that part of the problem? 00:10:30.347 --> 00:10:32.050 align:middle line:90% Yes, it is part of the problem. 00:10:32.050 --> 00:10:34.010 align:middle line:84% We are trying to get on top of that. 00:10:34.010 --> 00:10:35.140 align:middle line:90% We are still struggling. 00:10:35.140 --> 00:10:38.140 align:middle line:84% We are reaching out to governments and ministers, 00:10:38.140 --> 00:10:41.050 align:middle line:84% asking them to disaggregate the data so that we are 00:10:41.050 --> 00:10:42.970 align:middle line:90% able to do a better analysis. 00:10:42.970 --> 00:10:45.740 align:middle line:84% I think that in the next two weeks 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:47.920 align:middle line:84% we may be in a better place to give data 00:10:47.920 --> 00:10:51.910 align:middle line:84% that is much more adequate and data that we can use 00:10:51.910 --> 00:10:53.920 align:middle line:90% in making intelligent analysis. 00:10:53.920 --> 00:10:56.170 align:middle line:84% And specifically, what are you asking governments for, 00:10:56.170 --> 00:10:58.955 align:middle line:84% and what sort of data are you referring to? 00:10:58.955 --> 00:11:02.350 align:middle line:84% Well, even when we are just talking about deaths, 00:11:02.350 --> 00:11:06.760 align:middle line:84% we would like it to be said if how many 00:11:06.760 --> 00:11:09.580 align:middle line:90% men, how many women died. 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:14.620 align:middle line:84% If we are providing a stimulus and cash transfers 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:18.390 align:middle line:84% we would like it to be said, how many recipients were men, 00:11:18.390 --> 00:11:21.550 align:middle line:90% how many recipients were women. 00:11:21.550 --> 00:11:25.300 align:middle line:84% If we're talking about people who are calling on hotlines 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:31.650 align:middle line:84% to report... because this also is a very important way to talk 00:11:31.650 --> 00:11:32.650 align:middle line:90% directly to the women. 00:11:32.650 --> 00:11:35.920 align:middle line:84% We would like to ask them questions. 00:11:35.920 --> 00:11:37.540 align:middle line:90% How many are you in that house? 00:11:37.540 --> 00:11:39.170 align:middle line:90% How many women are in the house? 00:11:39.170 --> 00:11:40.350 align:middle line:90% Who else is at risk? 00:11:40.350 --> 00:11:41.650 align:middle line:90% Are they children? 00:11:41.650 --> 00:11:46.180 align:middle line:84% All of that is helping us to put together the puzzle. 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:48.220 align:middle line:84% And just in terms of the knock-on 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:50.260 align:middle line:84% effects of resources being diverted. 00:11:50.260 --> 00:11:53.350 align:middle line:84% So obviously, there is a huge diversion of resources 00:11:53.350 --> 00:11:54.010 align:middle line:90% right now. 00:11:54.010 --> 00:11:56.470 align:middle line:84% What does that mean for access to, for example, 00:11:56.470 --> 00:11:58.030 align:middle line:84% pre and post-natal care for women, 00:11:58.030 --> 00:12:01.270 align:middle line:84% or other reproductive services that they need? 00:12:01.270 --> 00:12:05.590 align:middle line:84% Well, whenever there is a crisis of this nature and magnitude 00:12:05.590 --> 00:12:08.710 align:middle line:84% we tend to lose out on the critical services that 00:12:08.710 --> 00:12:11.380 align:middle line:90% tend to benefit women. 00:12:11.380 --> 00:12:13.060 align:middle line:90% We have austerity measures. 00:12:13.060 --> 00:12:15.820 align:middle line:84% And usually what goes out of the window 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:20.480 align:middle line:84% first are those services that cushion the women from poverty. 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:25.270 align:middle line:84% Food parcels, support for shelter, as well as 00:12:25.270 --> 00:12:27.760 align:middle line:84% the help that is needed for women's health 00:12:27.760 --> 00:12:30.370 align:middle line:84% and for women's sexual and reproductive rights. 00:12:30.370 --> 00:12:32.585 align:middle line:84% We are worried, for instance, right now 00:12:32.585 --> 00:12:36.130 align:middle line:84% with the overextended health systems, women 00:12:36.130 --> 00:12:40.900 align:middle line:84% who need to deliver babies, not able to access hospital, 00:12:40.900 --> 00:12:45.580 align:middle line:84% because babies will be born, even in the midst of a crisis, 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:48.910 align:middle line:84% we now do not have midwives in our community. 00:12:48.910 --> 00:12:51.460 align:middle line:84% The way, maybe, in the last generation that 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:53.320 align:middle line:90% was a service that was common. 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:57.370 align:middle line:84% Women, we have done relatively well in maternal health, 00:12:57.370 --> 00:13:02.890 align:middle line:84% that more and more women have been accessing maternal health 00:13:02.890 --> 00:13:05.500 align:middle line:90% in formal settings. 00:13:05.500 --> 00:13:09.070 align:middle line:84% And now, all of a sudden that is gone. 00:13:09.070 --> 00:13:11.980 align:middle line:84% And women have to see how they cope with it. 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:14.560 align:middle line:84% And that puts their lives at risk. 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:17.590 align:middle line:84% I will not be surprised if after this, we'll 00:13:17.590 --> 00:13:24.070 align:middle line:84% find that our numbers which reflect what has happened 00:13:24.070 --> 00:13:28.630 align:middle line:84% to maternal health, illnesses, or deaths, 00:13:28.630 --> 00:13:30.910 align:middle line:90% have actually been dented. 00:13:30.910 --> 00:13:33.188 align:middle line:90% So that is also a concern. 00:13:33.188 --> 00:13:35.230 align:middle line:84% And finally, I just want to look at the long term 00:13:35.230 --> 00:13:38.440 align:middle line:84% effect of the coronavirus crisis on the fight for gender 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.350 align:middle line:90% equality. 00:13:39.350 --> 00:13:42.820 align:middle line:84% So this comes at a time when there was good momentum, 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:45.730 align:middle line:84% it seems, with the #MeToo movement in recent years, 00:13:45.730 --> 00:13:49.180 align:middle line:84% and a lot of public debate about gender equality. 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:51.730 align:middle line:84% Of course, UN Women's own Generation Equality Forum this 00:13:51.730 --> 00:13:53.050 align:middle line:90% year had to be cancelled. 00:13:53.050 --> 00:13:56.380 align:middle line:84% How do you regain that momentum after this crisis is over 00:13:56.380 --> 00:13:59.860 align:middle line:84% and life hopefully returns to normal? 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:02.200 align:middle line:84% We are trying to link our response 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:08.930 align:middle line:84% to Covid-19 to the ongoing work that we need to do. 00:14:08.930 --> 00:14:11.260 align:middle line:84% When we are responding, for instance, 00:14:11.260 --> 00:14:16.180 align:middle line:84% to gender-based violence that has come out of Covid, 00:14:16.180 --> 00:14:19.300 align:middle line:84% we are saying that governments must 00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:22.690 align:middle line:84% make this an urgent response, an essential service, 00:14:22.690 --> 00:14:25.840 align:middle line:84% and must sustain that, and not take it we 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:29.920 align:middle line:84% once we are no more having Covid. 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:33.100 align:middle line:84% We think that gender-based violence 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:35.470 align:middle line:84% has to be declared a pandemic, because it's 00:14:35.470 --> 00:14:37.450 align:middle line:84% a shadow pandemic, which was there 00:14:37.450 --> 00:14:39.670 align:middle line:84% before the outbreak of this pandemic, 00:14:39.670 --> 00:14:41.020 align:middle line:90% and will be there after. 00:14:41.020 --> 00:14:42.950 align:middle line:90% So we need to sustain it. 00:14:42.950 --> 00:14:45.790 align:middle line:84% But also we're now talking about representation 00:14:45.790 --> 00:14:50.620 align:middle line:84% of women in decision-making, in the economic sphere, where 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:54.610 align:middle line:84% different interventions about the economy are being decided. 00:14:54.610 --> 00:14:57.940 align:middle line:84% We feel that this is the time now to continue that fight, 00:14:57.940 --> 00:15:01.960 align:middle line:84% and fight for women's participation at every level. 00:15:01.960 --> 00:15:04.245 align:middle line:84% Phumzile, thank you very much for your time. 00:15:04.245 --> 00:15:04.900 align:middle line:90% Thank you. 00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:06.690 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much.