Italy's deputy foreign minister Emanuela Del Re has signed up to a joint United Nations statement signed by 59 countries urging the protection of women’s sexual and reproductive rights and a gender perspective in response to Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
"Our country has always been at the forefront of the fight against discrimination and against gender-based violence, and for the full participation of women in all areas, values that are at the heart of Italy's foreign policy and development cooperation," Del Re stated.
National lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic are increasing the vulnerability of women and girls to domestic violence and abuse and risk limiting their ability to access health, education and legal protection services, Del Re noted.
"This is why the defence and promotion of women's rights must be placed at the heart of the efforts to counter the virus and initiate a sustainable recovery," she added.
The UN appeal launched by Sweden and South Africa affirms the need for an emergency response to safeguard women’s rights, especially refugees, migrants and those who have fled their homes due to conflict or natural disasters, the foreign ministry stated.
The appeal also calls for measures to be implemented that account of the different impact of the pandemic on women and on their access to diagnosis and medical treatment. The appeal also confirms signatory countries' commitment to the implementation of a political declaration on universal health coverage, especially the protection of reproductive and maternity rights, and backs the effective participation of women in decision-making processes around the response to the pandemic.
"Gender mainstreaming remains a priority for Italy's overseas aid programme in adapting activities to the new needs related to Covid-19 in the most fragile countries, where the impact of the pandemic risks having the most devastating effects" – Del Re concluded.
