Comment: Women’s vulnerability during the Covid-19 pandemic

THE Covid-19 pandemic has caused a disruption to our everyday lives. Governments are racing to respond to the unprecedented demand for support as the number of those affected by the novel coronavirus soar. In an effort to control the rising numbers, governments globally have put movement restrictions in place. With some restrictions lasting for months in countries such as the lockdown in China, concerns on its impact on women, and their vulnerabilities, have been raised.

Past health crisis such as the Ebola outbreak in 2014 have highlighted the unique challenges and vulnerabilities women and girls face. In times of crisis, gender inequalities unfortunately compound and are amplified. UN Women and various other international and local organisations have raised concerns relating to the exacerbation of gender inequality issues, such as the disproportionate burden of care and gender-based violence as the crisis continues.