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01 June 2020

Global Women Leaders Use Social Media to Spur Action During COVID-19

On May 28, Every Woman Every Child hosted a high-level virtual roundtable featuring women leaders from around the global. (Watch here.) As part of the roundtable, speakers participated in a social media challenge and shared the ways in which they are working to protect and support every woman, child and adolescent during the COVID-19 crisis. Organizations and leaders globally have begun posting their commitments on social media via Twitter and challenging peers to do the same. Here is a selection of the challenges and responses. 

H.E Kersti Kaljualid, President of the Republic of Estonia, shared her commitment to protecting women, children and adolescents who are at increased danger of domestic violence due to COVID lockdowns.

 

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, shared that she is protecting women, children and adolescents by working to find a COVID vaccine that is free and available to all. 

Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director-General, vowed to “engender” COVID-19 response to address women’s needs to build equitable food systems.  

Katja Iverson, CEO of Women Deliver, is working to make sure that girls and women are front and center in the COVID-19 response and recovery and called on others to do the same. 

 

Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland, is chairing the Lancet Sight Commission to work on generating evidence on the  connections between gender, health and peaceful societies.

Dr. Flavia Bustreo is working with PMNCH and The Lancet to monitor and implement strategies to mitigate on gender-based violence.

 UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem vowed to protect the health, safety and dignity of women and children on behalf of UNFPA.

Gerda Verburg, UN Assistant Secretary-General and coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement, is working on ending malnutrition. 

Michelle Bachelet, the UN Human Rights Chief, is  working to ensure that women, children and adolescent rights are fully taken into account during COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

 Mary-Ann Etiebet, Executive Director of Merck for Mothers, is working to make sure that COVID-19 does not undermine progress to end maternal mortality.

Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Global CEO of Amref Health Africa, is advocating for a gender lens in recovery efforts.  

Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, is working to make sure that every child can have access to everything they need to grow and develop.

Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, is helping countries maintain immunization programs to protect children, women and adolescents against preventable diseases.  

Claudia Lopez, mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, created Safe Spaces in 630 supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations for women facing domestic violence.

 

Madame Li Xiaolin is working with EWEC China Partnership Network members.

Organizations that have participated in our challenge include:

Mothers2Mothers 

White Ribbon Alliance  

Equal Measures 2030 

Adara Group 

FHI 360