The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted lives globally, causing a significant struggle for vulnerable populations, particularly our women and girls.

This impact on our vulnerable groups only reinforces the inequity that exists, which we addressed during our United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event in September 2019. The inequalities were always present, COVID- 19 is only exposing them even more so now. Regardless of the situation, “women and girls are negatively and disproportionately impacted by disasters and conflict” (UNFPA and UN Women).

Moreover, COVID-19 has put the most vulnerable populations at higher risk due to the confinement measures and economic stresses that tend to reinforce abusive behaviour. According to UN Women, emerging data shows that since the outbreak of COVID-19, physical and sexual violence against women and girls (VAWG) has intensified.

Fortunately, despite challenges, there are immense opportunities: my experience as Belize’s Special Envoy for Women and Children and Chair of SCLAN has cemented my belief in the power of collaboration.

COVID-19 has shown us that there is still an urgent need for innovative targeted tools and comprehensive strategies to accelerate progress for our vulnerable populations. As we see positive efforts to fight COVID-19 in our region, we must use this dynamism to seek sustainable financing and reinforced partnerships that strengthen actions to protect women and girls.

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