COVID-19 and WPS Database
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COVID-19 and Women, Peace and Security Database

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At the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), we believe that despite the unprecedented challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has created, it is an opportunity to build more just, peaceful and equitable societies.

To achieve this, it is necessary to adopt gender- and conflict-sensitive COVID-19 responses and recovery measures, which are based on reliable data and information on the gendered impact of the pandemic, including the information coming from local women peacebuilders and civil society. This is why we developed a global database on COVID-19 and Women, Peace and Security.

The primary objective of this database is to encourage and inform the development and implementation of gender- and conflict-sensitive COVID-19 response and recovery strategies. We do this by documenting the leadership of local women peacebuilders in addressing the pandemic, and by providing concrete data and evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on women, and on peace and security. The information in the database is therefore grouped into five main categories: (1) Impact on women and gender equality; (2) Impact on women’s rights and peacebuilding organizations; (3) Impact on peace and security; (4) Women-led responses: Humanitarian action; and (5) Women-led responses: Peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

The primary source of information for this database are women and youth peacebuilders working at local, national, regional and global levels. Each entry is based on their insights, which our team analysed and supplemented with information from other existing reports and resources. We invite you to help us expand the database, by adding your perspectives and expertise!

The information in this database is meant to be used by local, national, regional and global decision-makers, civil society, media and academics in their analysis, action and decision-making to address COVID-19 and its long-term impacts. The database is published under Creative Commons license 4.0, and we welcome you to use and reproduce its contents, while acknowledging GNWP’s authorship.

Contribute to GNWP’s Database by completing the surveys here:

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Explore the categories of impacts and responses:

Impact on women and women's rights

Impact on women's food security
Increase in SGBV, including domestic violence
Increased exposure and risk as primary caretakers, healthcare workers, and first responders
Disrupted access to necessary social and health services
Impact on women's economic activity and livelihood, including in the informal sector
Worsened gender digital divide
Exacerbated burdens of unpaid work

Impact on women's rights and peacebuilding organizations

Increased risk for women peacebuilders, women human right defenders (WHRDs), and social leaders
Impact on funding for women's rights organizations, including suspension of funds or cuts in funds by donors
Other challenges and restrictions for women’s organizations to implement their work
Exclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups in decision-making, crisis-response and recovery

Impact on peace and security

Delay in implementation of peace agreements
Suppression of the press, including internet shut-downs
Over-militarized response, abuse of power
Delay in development or implementation of national or government strategies, policies, and frameworks
Increase in hate speech, stigma, discrimination, or xenophobia
Ceasefires
Impact on internal, ethnic and land conflicts, including farmer-pastoralist conflicts
Increase in fake news
Impact on border security in fragile and conflict-affected communities
Impact on delivery of humanitarian aid and relief

Women-led responses: Humanitarian action

Distribution of essential goods, including PPE, food, medicine, disinfectants, etc.
Support to women survivors and victims of GBV, including domestic violence
Awareness and information campaigns on preventative measures on media
Rural-level sensitization on preventative measures (door-to-door)
Provision of social and health services to vulnerable groups in conflict-affected communities, including refugees and IDPs

Women-led responses: Peacebuilding and conflict prevention

Monitoring ceasefires and the security and political situation in conflict-affected communities
Countering fake news
Targeted advocacy campaigns and broad awareness-raising
Mediating conflicts, building social cohesion

Quick links:

2021 Research Report

2020-2021 Regional Consultations

2020-2021 Pandemic Response Events

2020 Mitigation & Adaptation Strategy

Explore country updates:

Afghanistan

as of March 2021

Armenia

as of February 2021

Azerbaijan

as of February 2021

Bangladesh

as of June 2020

Burundi

as of February 2021

Cameroon

as of February 2021

Canada

as of February 2021

Colombia

as of February 2021

Democratic Republic of Congo

as of February 2021

Georgia

as of February 2021

Indonesia

as of March 2021

Iraq

as of March 2021

Kenya

as of February 2021

Lebanon

as of February 2021

Moldova

as of February 2021

Nigeria

as of February 2021

Northern Ireland

as of February 2021

Palestine

as of February 2021

Philippines

as of October 2020

Rwanda

as of February 2021

South Africa

as of February 2021

South Sudan

as of March 2021

Syria

as of February 2021

Uganda

as of February 2021

Ukraine

as of February 2021

United States of America

as of October 2020

More resources:

Access All Data - CSV File
Access All Data - Excel Workbook
Methodological Note

Through the eyes of women peacebuilders:

“The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed or even set back the struggle for gender equality in the DRC. Protection measures imposed, including lockdowns, resulted in a new way of life which has generated many forms of violence and inequality for which women and girls pay a heavy price.” – Hero Women Rising / Maman Shujaa, Democratic Republic of Congo

“We urge governments and development partners to list GBV support services as essential and provide resources for public services and nonprofits, especially women’s rights organizations providing GBV support, including shelters, referral services, and legal aid.” – Pathways for Women’s Empowerment and Development (PaWED), Cameroon

“State and non-state actors must implement transformative strategies that are people-oriented and focused on addressing the root causes of gender-based violence. There must be efforts to improve the security of women and girls by enacting laws as a part of the national response that support victims and survivors of gender-based violence.” – West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Nigeria

This database was created and is maintained with support from:

© 2020 Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Please feel free to use and cite parts of this publication, crediting the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders.

Suggested citation: Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (2020). “Mapping the Impact of COVID-19 on Women, Peace and Security. COVID-19 and WPS Database". Available at: gnwp.org/resources/covid-19-wps-database/