Press release: Japan supports UN Women to respond to the needs of women and girls in the midst of COVID-19

26 July 2020, Cairo — The Government of Japan has contributed USD 909,091 to UN Women programmes in the Arab States region focused on addressing the challenges women and girls face in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Women are disproportionately affected by the impact of COVID-19, as they tend to be overrepresented in low-paying, insecure and informal jobs, while bearing the bulk of unpaid care work at home. As more countries report infections and lockdown measures continue, domestic violence support services such as helplines and shelters across the region are reporting rising calls for help. The impact of the resultant economic crisis, combined with measures to prevent the spread of disease is fostering tension and strain created by security, health, and money worries, leading, in turn, to a reported increase in domestic violence cases.

In this context, with the generous support from the Government of Japan, the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States will implement programmes to ensure that regional and national responses to COVID-19 are gender-responsive, to make sure that women have access and benefit from essential protection, including services responding to gender-based violence, and to support women affected by the pandemic to have access to emergency support through cash transfers and livelihoods opportunities.

“Japan has been one of UN Women’s long-standing partners in advancing women’s rights and gender equality in the Arab States region” said Dr. Moez Doraid, UN Women Arab States Regional Director a.i. “It is the first country to join forces with UN Women to alleviate the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls and we look forward to continue to strengthen our partnership to bring about positive change in the lives of women and their communities,” he added.

This contribution from the Government of Japan to UN Women in the Arab States region is part of a global initiative to promote and protect the rights of women in the COVID-19 context across four regions (Asia and the Pacific, Eastern and Southern Africa, Europe and Central Asia, and the Arab States）amounting to a total contribution of USD 4,545,454.

Media Contact:

Diego De La Rosa / Nourhan El-Nagdy

e-mail: diego.delarosa[at]unwomen.org; or nourhan.elnagdy[at]unwomen.org