Women’s Economic Empowerment and COVID-19: A Snapshot of UN Women Response in the Arab States

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting an unprecedented and significant strain on the global economy and public health systems. It is also highlighting, and magnifying inequalities and the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women and girls. The pandemic has moved beyond a global health crisis and has morphed into a labour market, social and economic crisis, posing a serious threat to women’s employment and livelihoods, especially in precarious informal and non-essential sectors. This snapshot maps UN Women’s response in the Arab States on response and recovery in the domain of women’s economic empowerment.