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.
CIVIL SOCIETY INITIATIVES
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
