Challenge Lab 2: combatting violence against women in the context of a crisis

How do we ensure access to support services for women and girls who are victims of violence during the Covid-19 crisis when their freedom of movement and association or access to support services are limited? 

We look forward to receiving your solutions!

Across UfM member states, lockdowns and other measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 have trapped many women and girls at home with their abusers and limited their access to support networks. Several countries have seen a rise in domestic violence reports during the pandemic, while others have seen a decrease, suggesting women face greater barriers to seeking help.

At the same time, access to support and essential services is compromised when the authorities, security forces and health and social services are overburdened. Or when the delivery of these services is altered, for example, to comply with physical distancing measures. All this places women and girls in greater danger and allows perpetrators to act with impunity. The digital divide affecting women and girls without personal or safe access to cell phones, computers or the Internet only exacerbates the problem.

About the Challenge Lab

Despite significant advances in equality in the Euro-Mediterranean region over the last 25 years, we are still far from achieving gender parity in many areas. Conflicts, crises, social upheaval and emergencies all hinder progress and have a disproportionate impact on women and girls. The Covid-19 pandemic is no exception, deepening existing inequalities, threatening economic stability and putting a strain on essential services, all of which amplifies gender-based impacts.

At the same time, women play a key role in pandemic response as they provide vital services in education, health and social care, retail and supply chain, among other sectors. In health and social care alone, women account for 70% of the workforce and deliver care to around 5 billion people.

Now more than ever we must identify practical solutions to the unique challenges facing women and girls at home and at work during the Covid-19 crisis.

With this in mind, our Challenge Labs are a space for participants to contribute project ideas or good practices in advance of the2020 Women4Mediterranean Conference. The aim is to provide food for thought, stimulate debate, share inspiration and ensure the Conference gives rise to actionable solutions to drive real change.  

• Submit your proposal using the Challenge Questionnaire until 18 November . 

Submissions will be reviewed by experts and selected proposals will be presented during the Conference in the Challenge Lab session on 19 November 2020 at 09:30-10:00 (CET). The most voted solutions will also feature in the UfM press release and be published on the UfM website.

Who can participate?

Anyone who would like to submit a good practice example or a project proposal. Please note that proposals must:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the specific Challenge and the needs of its beneficiaries in the region, as well as incorporate their inputs and any relevant supporting evidence or research.
• Clearly explain how the project idea or good practice will positively impact women and girls in the region affected by the Covid-19 pandemic within the specific Challenge context.
• Be innovative, or propose a new way to use an existing approach.
• Be sustainable over time, scalable and with high impact potential.
• Be considered desirable by experts.

If you have any questions, please contact: womenconference@ufmsecretariat.org. Thank you!