women's rights

We need to transform our economies to deliver universal health, education and other public services. To make this possible, the richest people and corporations should pay their fair share of tax. This will drive a dramatic reduction in the gap between rich and poor and between women and men.

Rising economic inequality across Asia is threatening poverty reduction and slowing down the fight against gender inequality. We believe that women’s economic empowerment is a critical factor in achieving gender equality and in supporting wider development goals

Simegn’s journey began when she first joined a self-help group, saving five or ten birr each week. “I saved up enough to invest in a mini shop,” she says. Today, the shop, along with her sales of Ethiopian traditional beer, (tela), provides a steady, if modest, income for the family.

Experts at Oxfam and partner organizations will be leading CSW parallel events tackling challenges to women’s rights and equity related to the climate crisis and economic opportunities. 

Before the Covid-19 pandemic 1 in 3 women experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. With Covid-19 the situation got worse for many. Yet, nowhere near enough is being done to end it. Immediate action is needed now to fight gender-based violence. It starts with governments. It starts with social norms change. It starts with taking action.

Grassroots organisations at the forefront of the fight for gender justice have consistently been the most heavily hit by funding cuts during the pandemic, despite increasing donor commitments toward gender equality. This comes at a time when gender rights issues including violence against women and girls, are increasingly being reported as emerging concerns due to the pandemic. 

The COVID-19 crisis cost women around the world at least $800 billion in lost income in 2020, equivalent to more than the combined GDP of 98 countries, said Oxfam today.  

A year after WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the virus has laid bare the stark gender inequality that continues to shape our world. Despite being at the forefront of the response, women have borne the brunt of this crisis. On International Women's Day, we must reflect on why this happened and why it is absolutely critical for women and girls to have an equal voice and co-lead in rebuilding after COVID-19.

This paper seeks to highlight the experiences and aspirations of young women and feminist activists in the MENA region around digital spaces, safety and rights. It explores individual women’s experiences engaging with the digital world as a space of resistance, despite restrictions on civic space.

Forty-three percent of women surveyed across five countries reported feeling more anxious, depressed, isolated, overworked, or ill because they are having to shoulder even more unpaid care work as a result of the coronavirus crisis, said Oxfam today.