Category: News Organizations: KIPRED , Kosovar Gender Studies Center , EUSR , OSCE , UNICEF , UNFPA , EULEX , UN Women , UNMIK , UNHCR , UN Habitat , IOM Tags:
Security and Gender Group (SGG) urges the government to adopt measures to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe will be profound, as it brings the world economy towards a recession. Emerging evidence on the impact of COVID-19 suggests that women’s economic and productive lives will be affected disproportionately and differently from men. Across the globe, as in Kosovo, women earn less, save less, hold less secure jobs, and are more likely to be employed in the informal sector. They have less access to social protection and represent the majority of single parent households. Their capacity to absorb economic shocks is therefore lower than that of men.
In Kosovo, as a result of the temporary closure of many economic activities, women, who bear the majority of the burden of care responsibilities and housework, are more exposed to the violation of their rights. Approximately 30% of women employed in the private sector in Kosovo work informally, and are unable to benefit from social security support, and are more likely to experience financial distress.[1] Moreover, they are often unable to adopt appropriate preventive health measures due to less economic means, leading to a greater risk of COVID-19 exposure. Women self-employed in family businesses and performing essential activities, such as retail, and pharmaceutical, health and social work, face similar risks.[2]Exacerbated burdens of unpaid care work on women and girls have also been identified in Kosovo, where care responsibilities are frequently placed onto women and girls, who bear the main responsibility for caring for ill family members and the elderly. The closure of schools further aggravates such burdens on women and girls, who absorb the additional responsibility of caring for children.
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