Today, May 28, as the world commemorates the International Day of Action for Women’s Health, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) gives the spotlight to how the Covid – 19 pandemic has disproportionally affected women, their health and overall well-being. While the pandemic has affected all of us, this public health crisis has magnified and exacerbated the longstanding gender inequalities in our society.
The Silayan Report*, a gender and inclusion assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic released in March 2021, noted that vulnerable groups have been rendered more vulnerable by the crisis.
The study revealed that internally displaced women in evacuation centers, women with disabilities, and the urban poor had the worse experiences during the pandemic. Sixty percent (60%) of indigenous peoples, internally displaced persons, and urban poor women were reported to have not received enough ‘ayuda’ or government aid. It surfaced the exclusion of so-called “hidden households” from government assistance.
The sectoral monitoring of CHR, particularly with women with disabilities, also highlighted how pre-existing communication and physical barriers were further exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis. Medical and therapy needs of women with disabilities became even more inaccessible, and many members of their households were excluded from the government’s list of beneficiaries.
This sentiment was echoed by urban poor women who, due to relocation and other housing-related issues, were also excluded in the list of beneficiaries in their respective localities. Women left behind by government’s drug campaign expressed hesitation in availing government programs and subsidies due trauma and fear. Women in detention, including political prisoners, complained of isolation, the risk of infection, and limited supply of gender-specific needs.
At the same time, extended quarantines and lockdowns have disproportionately increased women and girls’ unpaid care work. Such conditions have also heightened the risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse. At times, gender-based violence persists because people are locked down in their homes with their abuser.
On this day, CHR renews its call for gender-responsive Covid interventions that also consider the realities of the vulnerable sectors of society.
In 2020, CHR signed a Joint Memorandum Circular with the Department of the Interior and Local Government calling for gender responsive Covid-19 interventions grounded on the lived realities of people, especially the marginalized groups. This includes ensuring effective, prompt, and, survivor-centered responses to gender-based violence.
Local government units must address the access issues of the disadvantaged, marginalized and vulnerable. The government must address with utmost urgency the needs of hidden households and beneficiaries. Government lists must reflect multiple vulnerabilities brought about by extended families, and must identify those in need of care, such as children, older persons, persons with disability, and those who are ill.
Considering that many vulnerable women, by virtue of specific contexts like displacement, homelessness, transience are often not considered constituents, we recommend that efforts be undertaken to reach these women. These are culled from reports of exclusion from the government’s social amelioration programs in the past year. Clearly, these issues must be addressed in the vaccine roll-out as well.
Now that the Covid-19 vaccination program is underway, we also need to ask important questions to make sure that no one is left behind. Are those in the fringes assured access to information, prioritization? Are measures considering their vulnerabilities? Are the women and other marginalized groups involved in the planning and programming, and in decision-making? Are gender specific concerns, such as maternal health, gender-based violence, and unpaid care work being considered in the vaccine roll-out?
Vaccine information must be accessible for the deaf and other women with disability and those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Women’s realities, such as unpaid care work, distance to, safety, and availability of transportation, and the risk of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation must be considered in vaccine programming. Sign language interpreters and translations of all vaccine related issuances and announcements must be made available. Child-care support for women must be considered to allow them to travel to vaccination sites. Transportation support for women with disabilities and rural and indigenous women must also be provided.
The Commission launched its #Vaccine4All campaign highlighting everyone’s right to access Covid-19 vaccines, which are safe, effective, and based on the application of best scientific developments. Vaccines must be accessible to everyone, especially for marginalized groups and people living in remote areas. We also highlighted the importance of accessibility and transparency of information about Covid-19 vaccines, including safety in relation to pregnant and lactating women.
Equality and non-discrimination must be mainstreamed in the Covid-19 vaccination program. Gender is an important aspect in the access and prioritization discourse. However, it is not the sole consideration. Apart from gender, a truly inclusive vaccination program must take into account ethnicity, age, ability, religion, and other contexts, and the possible vulnerabilities that people experience because of one or more of these factors.
In the end, the current pandemic must also be seen as a human rights challenge. Apart from the vulnerabilities pertaining to our health, government response should equally be mindful of the conditions that exacerbate and complicate inequalities, such as those experienced by women, because of this global health crisis. Bridging these gaps would lead to a more responsive and inclusive pandemic response because we have ensured that no one is left behind. ###
#WomenHealthMatters #EndInequalityPandemic
*The Silayan Report was a study by United Nations Population Fund of the Philippines, along with partners CARE, Oxfam Pilipinas, PLAN International, UNHCR, UN Women, UNICEF and eighteen other partners in Civil Society, and the Commission on Human Rights.
The report can be accessed at .