By Helen Clark, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés and Gabriela Cuevas Barron
In a world of multiple crises, we find it surprising that gender equality is not a priority for most politicalleaders. Mounting evidence shows that the health and resilience of our communities and economiesdepends on women being at the decision-making table - and they should fill half the seats there.
Yet women occupy a minority of leadership roles across sectors and just 28 of 194 countries are ledby women. [2] The consequences of this inequity were exemplified during the COVID-19 pandemicemergency, since only a minority of countries were able to keep death rates relatively low and manyof those that could, had governments led by women. [3]
The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated gender inequality. It revealed immense vulnerabilitieswhich can’t be addressed unless governments acknowledge, invest in, and strengthen structures thatsupport women and girls. It is a fair assumption that these acknowledgements, investments, andstrengthening won’t happen until we have more women in leadership roles.
During the pandemic, women across all sectors left the workforce as they were impacted bytraditional gender roles, caretaking responsibilities, gender-discriminatory pay structures, unsafe workconditions and lack of social protection. For girls, school closures and other pressures exacerbatedrisks such as mental health challenges, violence, child marriage, pregnancy, female genital mutilation,and HIV infection. Millions of women and girls were left without access to sexual and reproductivehealth services. 11.2 million girls and young women were left at risk of not returning to education. [4]
Job departures were particularly noticeable in the health workforce. Over 70 per cent of it is made upof women, many of whom are underpaid, unpaid, overworked, and/or in precarious jobs.
The many pressures created by conflicts and climate change are increasing poverty and genderinequality further, including through rising energy and living costs and inflation. [5] Increased out-of-pocket payments for essential services also require many families to choose between accessingessential health services and clean water and food. In some countries, the most basic human rights ofwomen and girls are being revoked, such as the right to education.
As leaders of networks and multi-stakeholder partnerships that work to make gender equality andhealth for all a reality, we call on Heads of State and Governments to prioritize and resource thisagenda every time they meet. They have plenty of opportunities to do that this year, including at theG7 and G20, at the Bretton Woods meetings, at regional leadership dialogues, and with all memberstates of the United Nations including during the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Summit andthe High-Level Meetings on health at this year’s UN General Assembly.
To kick start the change, we offer a four-point plan:
First, ensure that more women are in public and private sector leadership and decision-making rolesand commit to gender parity by 2030. Women should be represented at all levels, from President toCEO to Director, on Boards and in managerial positions and as Ministers of important portfolios suchas finance and foreign affairs. They must also be supported to stay in these demanding roles.
Second, ensure financial protection to minimize out-of-pocket health care payments so that all peoplecan access the services they need. Advance progress on universal health coverage, so thateveryone, everywhere can access quality health services, including comprehensive sexual andreproductive health services, without the risk of financial hardship.
Third, with women making up most of the health and care workforce, ensure gender equity inleadership, address underpaid and unpaid work with adequate remuneration, close the gender paygap, and invest in safe and decent work. Deliver training opportunities and violence- and
discrimination-free environments for all health workers. This is beneficial for the quality of care, andthe resilience of health systems, making us all less vulnerable to emergencies.
Fourth, we need to collect and analyze sex- and gender-disaggregated data, and practice gender-based budgeting, to ensure gender-responsive and gender-transformative policies that leave no onebehind.
We need world leaders to focus on women and girls on International Women’s Day and on the other364 days of the year. Everyone will benefit.
Helen Clark is the PMNCH Board Chair and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, PhumzileMlambo-Ngcuka is Board Chair, Women Deliver, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is Board Chairof Women in Global Health and Gabriela Cuevas Barron, Co-Chair of UHC2030 Steering Committee.
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