Parliamentarians discuss heightened gender-related impact of COVID-19

Women tend to be more vulnerable to the socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures which have been taken to contain the virus. This is one of the observations which inspired a wide-ranging discussion among Parliamentarians from Europe and elsewhere on the gender-related impacts of  COVID-19 on food security and nutrition.

On Thursday 18 June, Member of the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition, Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, took part in a Virtual Dialogue on “Parliamentarians action for gender equality and resilient food systems in response to COVID-19” organized by FAO’s Partnerships Division, in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Oxfam.  This dialogue was the first in a series which aims to enhance the role of parliamentarians in mitigating the gender-differentiated impacts of COVID-19 on food systems. Gathering more than two hundred participants from Europe and around the world, the virtual dialogue provided a key opportunity for them to reflect on their role in tackling the COVID-19 crisis. They also shared examples of good practices, in terms of gender-responsive policy measures undertaken in their respective regions to reinforce food security and food systems. The dialogue was followed by the adoption of a Call for Action of Parliamentarians in response to the various impacts of COVID-19 on gender equality, food security and nutrition.  

Marcela Villarreal, Director of FAO’s Partnerships Division and Moderator for the event, highlighted the important role of Parliamentarians as actors in development, especially in helping to achieve SDG 2 (End Hunger) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Setting the scene for the discussion, she stressed the interconnections between both goals and the need to achieve gender equality in order to be able to eradicate hunger. In this context, Parliamentarians have an essential role to play, to make sure that there is the political will needed to achieve these goals by 2030.

During her remarks at the event, MEP Rodriguez Ramos said that, in light of the considerable impact of COVID-19 on the right to food, livelihoods and gender equality,  reinforcing the work and efforts of the Parliamentary Alliances in these areas is essential.  Saluting the enormous effort shown by the Parliamentarians from Latin America and the Caribbean, and their counterparts from Africa, she also stressed the role and potential of the European Parliament in strengthening collaboration with Parliamentary fronts all over the world. She concluded by insisting on the fundamental role of women and rural women, and the urgent importance of empowering women and ensuring that they have access to the same rights and resources as others.