Pandemics are bad for women’s health – but they are also bad for their labour rights, suggests research from Matahari Global Solutions and the People’s Vaccine Alliance. Harry Bignell and Abha Jeurkar set out key gendered impacts of the pandemic – including the impact on trans and non-binary people – and call for pressure on global leaders to make sure we avoid them in future.
The pandemic treaty must put people before Big Pharma profits
How can governments negotiating a new deal on pandemic preparedness and response make sure they don’t repeat the failures of COVID-19? They must ignore corporate lobbying and address the patent regimes that blocked billions from accessing lifesaving vaccines, says Abha Jeurkar
How can we tackle the pain austerity inflicts on women? Start by really seeing and valuing the work they do
As Oxfam releases a new report highlighting austerity as a form of gender-based violence, Anam Parvez and Clare Coffey identify three deep-rooted attitudes at the root of this economic violence, including the idea that the work women do isn’t real work
The injustice over vaccines is being replayed: as rich countries deny billions access to lifesaving COVID-19 treatments
The World Trade Organisation decision in June – far from being the comprehensive waiver we campaigned for – outrageously omitted life-saving tests and treatments, says Harry Bignell. Now the UK and other rich countries must unblock access to medicines and diagnostics, or risk devastating global consequences
In East Africa, the pandemic has pushed millions out of work: here’s what governments need to do
My region’s countries collect just a fifth of what they should in tax, says Oxfam’s Anthony Kamande. We need those lost billions to tackle extreme inequality and mend our public finances
How trust between partners in Nepal made our pandemic response fast and effective
Bureaucracy or lack of understanding of communities can slow down crisis response. Our project, backed by the Grundfos Foundation, shows how solidarity between local and international partners can get round the obstacles, say Oxfam’s Sherrell Perkin and Sarah Marioni
In Asia, billionaires profited from the pandemic while millions dropped out of school forever
In our final blog for Davos week, Oxfam India chief executive Amitabh Behar looks at how the pandemic has widened an already vast wealth gap in Asia Pacific
Boosting decent employment for Africa’s youth
by Marieke Meeske and Saskia van Veen Youth in Africa face a myriad of constraints that affect their access to and success in the labour market. The current COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionally affects young people, puts further pressure on the job market. Youth employment policies and programmes try to tackle these constraints, e.g. by providing training and skills development to youth (supply side) or development of small and …
Ten lessons in promoting inclusive entrepreneurship program
by Ahmed Elassal and Shekhar Anand Most countries in the MENA region continue to marginalize the most vulnerable adolescents and youth, particularly young women, poor, refugees or people with disabilities, impacting their ability to realize their full potential (UNICEF). Young entrepreneurs find it extremely difficult to run their micro enterprises, small businesses, and start-ups in the same manner as they were doing …
COVID19: WIDOWHOOD ‘AGENCY’, EXPOSED BURDENS, CULTURE & GENDER ALLIES
Roseline Orwa and Valentine Linet set out in June 2021 to understand how widows in rural Siaya were coping and managing during Covid-19. With majority being survivors of two pandemics – HIV and Covid-19, we asked them how they wanted to engage. From which we employed deep sensitivity and a story telling approach during one-on-one interviews. In this blog, we …