Global Pledge for Action Webinar: Gender equality in the context of COVID-19

The UN Alliance of Civilization (UNAOC), the Office on Genocide Prevention and Responsibility to Protect (OSAPG) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) held a virtual consultation with religious leaders and actors on 28 May 2020. The consultation was organized in response to the 22 April call by the UN Secretary-General to religious actors to contribute to wider efforts against the pandemic and its consequences. The meeting brought together religious leaders and actors as well as faith-based organizations to discuss possible areas of action and collaboration with the United Nations in the common fight against COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts. This consultation resulted in the Global Pledge for Action, which includes a declaration by religious leaders and actors with assurances and commitments in response to COVID-19, and a mapping of ongoing activities and possible areas of collaboration with the United Nations.

The first webinar, entitled “Gender equality in the context of COVID-19”, will be held via Cisco Webex on Monday, 7 December 2020 at 10:00-11:30 EDT/16:00-17:30 CET.

For the opening panel discussion, we are delighted to have confirmations from Ahmed Shaheed (UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief), Nahla Haidar (member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women), Samuel Jayakumar (South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief) and Ghida Anani (founder and director of ABAAD – Resource Centre for Gender Equality). Ibrahim Salama (Chief of OHCHR Human Rights Treaties Branch) will facilitate the inter-active discussion and peer-to-peer learning.

In the second part of this webinar on 7 December, all participants are kindly invited to present good practices and lessons learnt, and identify specific action needed to promote gender equality in the context of COVID-19. Please feel free to raise any questions, challenges and opportunities as well as to explore options for follow-up and further collaboration.

Participants need to have experience working in the field of combating COVID-19 and its impacts on society. If interested, please send an email with the designated person’s name, contact details and institutional affiliation to mwiener@ohchr.org with copy to anajimenez@unops.org and cruciani@un.org and you will receive the link to join the webinars following the registration.