COVID-19: Magnifying Gender Inequalities

Featuring: Yeva Avakyan, Save the Children; Dr. Michelle Lokot, LSHTM; Alina Potts, Global Women’s Institute, George Washington University; Dorcas Acen, Save the Children East and Southern Africa; Cansu Aydin, CARE International Iraq ||

The next webinar in READY’s weekly series was COVID-19: Magnifying Gender Inequalities, held on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, 0800-0900 EDT/1200-1300 GMT.

Summary: Yeva Avakyan from Save the Children led select panelists in a conversation about the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality. Initially labeled the “great equalizer,” the COVID-19 pandemic is anything but. Anchoring the discussion in the feminist perspective, speakers discussed how power hierarchies exacerbate inequalities during a crisis, including the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence. Colleagues from East Africa and the Middle East shared examples of program adaptation in humanitarian contexts. The panelists also shared practical actions and discussed lessons learned in gender-equitable program response to COVID-19.

Moderator: Yeva Avakyan, Associate Vice-President, Gender Equality, Save the Children

Expert Speakers

  • Dr. Michelle Lokot, Research Fellow, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
  • Alina Potts, Research Scientist, Global Women’s Institute, George Washington University
  • Dorcas Acen, Gender Equality and GBV Advisor, Save the Children East and Southern Africa
  • Cansu Aydin, Gender and Protection Manager, CARE International Iraq

The webinar recording accessible above will also be posted with follow-up questions and supplemental resources on READY’s discussion forum.

United States Agency for International Development Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, Save the Children, Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, UK Med, EcoHealth Alliance, Mercy Malaysia

This website is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). READY is led by Save the Children in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, UK-Med, EcoHealth Alliance, and Mercy Malaysia. Site contents are the responsibility of READY and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.