Ulaanbaatar
COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacting women and girls in Mongolia
Society
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into a full scale health and socio-economic unprecedented challenges, with particular impact on women and girls, that could further exacerbate existing inequalities while threatening to roll back the progress made towards the Sustainable Development Goals in Mongolia according to the new study introduced jointly by UNDP, ADB and the National Committee on Gender Equality. The study assessed the pandemic’s impact on women and girls in Mongolia in four interlinked areas—social service, employment and income, government response measures and vulnerability.
Women make up nearly 82 percent of all health workers in Mongolia exposing them and their dependents to a significant risk. Furthermore, women and girls bear an unequal share of unpaid care and the domestic work burden which have increased significantly during COVID-19, negatively impacting their education, self-care and development.
During the quarantine period, women, especially women with disabilities and pregnant women, had experienced challenges to get urgent medical services and the maternal mortality increased by 27.8 percent compared to the past three years.
Domestic and gender-based violence is on the rise as the country put in place various levels of restrictions and lockdowns to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. According to the National Statistics Office, domestic violence offences have increased by 35 percent from March December 2020 compared to 2019.
The Mongolian economy has been severely hit by the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19; especially, most micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that are largely dominated by women are facing challenges in terms of cash flow, reduced supply and demand, and disruption in the value chains.
The study also sheds light on the specific needs of women and girls’ COVID-19 recovery measures to assist the Government of Mongolia to mitigate the impact of the prevention measures and increase women’s and girls' resilience by providing suggested actions and solutions that can be taken in the short to long term.
“The response to and recovery from the COVID-19 unprecedented challenges facing Mongolia should be centered on the needs of the Mongolian people and promote the empowerment of all women and girls through equality and inclusiveness as well as on increasing women’s representation and participation in the decision-making processes not only in connection to the COVID-19 but in Mongolia’s overall development” said Elaine Conkievich, UNDP Resident Representative.
Access to full study here: http://bit.ly/3bsnDgE
Source: UNDP Mongolia
