Civil society Initiatives

Non-governmental organisations, and notably women’s rights organisations, are instrumental in raising awareness about the various ways and aspects of women’s lives which have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
This page aims at compiling the various initiatives, statements, reports and other relevant work carried out by NGOs, with particular regard to European and international NGOs.

Amnesty International
- Poland: MPs ‘freeze’ regressive bills on abortion and sex education following protests,
16 April 2020 - Poland: Abortion ban and regressive sexuality education laws must not be rushed through under cover of COVID-19,
14 April 2020 - Europe: European government must ensure safe and timely access to abortion care during COVID-19 pandemic, 8 April 2020
- Europe: Failures to guarantee safe access to abortion endangers health of women, girls amid COVID-19,
8 April 2020 - Europe at a crossroads: DOs and DON’Ts for authorities when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Report, 2 April 2020
Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)
- What does resourcing for social movements look like when the entire ecosystem is under threat?,
Analysis, 6 April 2020 - Unchecked corporate power paved the way for COVID-19, and globally, women are at the frontlines, Analysis, 23 March 2020
Care
- Global rapid gender analysis for COVID-19, 31 March 2020
- Gender implications of covid-19 outbreaks in development and humanitarian settings,
Policy brief,16 March 2020
Centre for Global Development
- Approaching COVID-19 Risk and Response through a Gender Lens, Webinar, 9 April 2020
- Pandemics and Violence Against Women and Children, Working paper, 1 April 2020
- Playing the Long Game: How a Gender Lens Can Mitigate Harm Caused by Pandemics,
Analysis, 18 March 2020
Center for Reproductive Rights
- COVID-18 SRHR Pro Bono Clearing House: Legal Advice for Civil Society Organisations and Health Professionals on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights +COVID-19
- COVID-19, Exposing Fault Lines on Sexual & Reproductive Rights, Webinar, 30 June 2020
- News in brief on COVID-19& SRHR in Europe, Bulletin 8 June 2020
- News in brief on COVID-19& SRHR in Europe, Bulletin 3 May 2020
- News in brief on COVID-19& SRHR in Europe, Bulletin 9 April 2020
- In the face of covid-19 pandemic, sexual and reproductive health services are essential, 6 April 2020
Equality Now
- COVID-19: A time for strength, humanity and kindness, Statement, 26 March 2020
Equinet
European Disability Forum
- Webinar on the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention): Preventing and combating violence against women and girls with disabilities, 8 May 2020
- Recommendations on guaranteeing the rights of women and girls with disabilities in disability inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 25 March 2020
- Message from EDF Vice President on women with disabilities and COVID-19, 24 March 2020
Euro-Mediterranean Women's Foundation
- Gender Perspectives on COVID-19 in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: Resources and Information,
April 2020
European Network for the Work with Perpetrators of Domestic Violence
European Network of Migrant Women
- Global feminist perspective on the pandemic: what “normal” do we expect when the crisis is over?, Analysis, 31 March 2020
European Women's Lobby
- Putting equality between women and men at the heart of the response to COVID-19 across Europe,
Policy Brief, 10 April 2020
Feminist Alliance for Rights
- Call for a Feminist COVID-19 Policy, Statement, 20 March 2020
Gender and COVID-19
- Gender and COVID-19 project, January 2021
Global Health 5050
Global Network of Women Peacebuilders
Global Network of Women’s Shelters and Asian Network of Women Shelters
- Fundraising to keep shelter services going during a public health crisis, Webinar, 6 May 2020
- Supporting Women at a Distance During COVID-19, Webinar, 29 April 2020
- Serving survivors with COVID-19 — sharing success stories and challenges from around the world, Webinar, 23 April 2020
- Using Technology to Support Victims During a Public Health Crisis, Webinar, 15 April 2020
- Using Technology to Support Victims During a Public Health Crisis, Webinar, 8 April 2020
- Policy perspectives on protection of victims of domestic violence, Webinar, 1 April 2020
- Coronavirus and women’s shelters: Planning, preparation and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Webinar, 25 March 2020
Human Rights Watch
- Poland: Reject New Curbs on Abortion, Sex Ed, 14 April 2020
- COVID-19 Offers Chance to Address Human Rights Concerns, Sex Ed, 14 April 2020
- European governments must ensure safe and timely access to abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic,
Joint Civil Society Statement, 8 April 2020 - Human Rights Dimensions of COVID-19 Response #Address disproportionate impacts on women and girls, 19 March 2020
International Committee of the Red Cross
- Prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence in covid-19 quarantine centres,
Policy Brief, 7 April 2020
International Gender Champions (ICG)
- Respond, don't react: Gender-responsive programming in times of crisis, Webinar, 23 April 2020
International Planned Parenthood Federation
- COVID-19 pandemic cuts access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for women around the world, 9 April 2020
International Medical Advisory Panel
- COVID-19 and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Statement, 2 April 2020
Madre
- Care and connection in crisis. Feminist strategy to confront COVID-19,
Policy Brief, 16 April 2020
Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK)
- Gender equality effects of COVID-19 – Knowledge and initiatives in the Nordic countries, publication, 2021
Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM)
Plan International
- UN's covid-19 response must reach girls, women and refugees, 26 March 2020
Sexual and Reproductive health matters
- COVID-19: What implications for sexual and reproductive health and rights?, Webinar, 27 March 2020
Wave Network
- Press Release: Wave Policy Statement on COVID 19 and violence against Women and Girls, 12 May 2020
- Covid-19 Resources for Women's Specialist Support Services & Women's Organisations,
Resource list, 18 March 2020
Women in Development Europe +
- The gender impact of Coronavirus: How to move to an economy that cares for people and the planet, Essay, 25 March 2020
- Framework for a Gender Analysis: COVID-19 Crisis Response, Checklist, 3 April 2020
Women in Migration Network
- From Crisis to a New Social Compact: An inclusive, intersectional feminist approach is the only way out of the COVID Crisis, Statement, 11 April 2020
Women’s Link Worldwide
- Europe: women's and girls' rights in times of the COVID-19: A Guide for Europe: Protecting the rights of women and girls in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, 26 May 2020
- Guidelines for protecting the rights of women and girls during the covid-19 pandemic,
Statement, April 2020