COVID-19; gender; inequality; webinar; development; panel

The COVID-19 crisis is exposing pre-existing inequalities across every sphere, from health to the economy, to social protection. These are particularly exacerbated among women and girls. According to UN Women, in the 12 months prior to the pandemic, 243 million girls and women worldwide between the ages of 15 and 49 had experienced physical and sexual violence at the hands of their partners. During the pandemic, gender-based violence has dramatically increased.