Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Emanuela Del Re, participated today in the presentation of the WeWorld Index 2020 Report on the issue of “Women and children at the time of Covid-19”. The report provides an annual overview of the level of inclusion of women and children worldwide and is edited by WeWorld, the Italian organization established to defend the rights of women and children.
Speaking at the end of the event, Vice Minister Del Re stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic particularly affects the most vulnerable social groups that already suffer from poverty, marginalisation and other difficult socio-economic conditions: women, children, young people, disabled people, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants.
“The lack of access to education particularly affects teenage girls, if we consider that not attending school entails very serious risks for them, including early and forced marriages”. – she continued – “In general, the pandemic has had devastating effects on women and not only in developing countries; another serious effect is the spike in cases of domestic violence: according to UN Women, 243 million women around the world have been victims of physical and/or sexual violence in recent months”.
The Vice Minister then assured that Italian Cooperation is committed to increasing its efforts to prevent and protect women and girls from all forms of discrimination and violence and to protect the rights of women, children and the most vulnerable groups, helping to ensure their safety, physical and mental health, well-being, economic security and equality.
“Today we are facing some pressing challenges: global action is needed to protect the most vulnerable in society, to prevent the health crisis from turning into an education and gender crisis, and to build a new and effective model of sustainable development, enabling children, young people and women to face the world of tomorrow in the best position possible”. – the Vice Minister concluded.
