As the entire international community is severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, France, Mexico, and UN Women announced on Friday that the Generation Equality Forum will be postponed until the first half of 2021. While this change in schedule is justified by pressing health and security concerns, it cannot result in governments withdrawing their commitments to women's and girls' rights in political agendas at the national and international levels.
The COVID-19 pandemic, like most health and humanitarian crises, highlights and exacerbates structural societal inequalities, including gender inequalities. In addition to being on the front lines in the fight against the virus, including as health professionals, women and girls are more exposed to domestic and intimate partner violence (IPV), and their access to contraception and abortion is particularly limited.
The Generation Equality Forum, which should have taken place in May in Mexico and in July in France within the framework of the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Plan of Action, had as a key objective to tackle key issues related to gender equality and to advance the international agenda on the matter.
The French and Mexican governments must make use of this calendar change to reinforce the participation of feminist movements in all their diversity. This is necessary in the short term to undertake an adapted response to this pandemic, and in the longer term to advance gender equality, set objective of the Generation Equality Forum. France and Mexico must as well build on the mobilization and ensure ambitious political and financial commitments are taken. Achieving gender equality requires a strong political will and substantial resources.
Signatories:
France
ACT-DTOUR – Global Health Action – Modern Administration – International Alliance of Women – Friends of the Global Fund Europe – Amnesty International France – Association for the Education of Disabled Children (AAEEH) – Association of Women of Southern Europe (AFEM) – Association Olympe – Biodiversity For Peace – CARE France – Conseil National des Femmes Françaises (CNFF) – Coordination SUD – Du Coté Des Femmes – Equipop – Femmes de demain – Mediterranean Women’s Fund – Humanity Diaspo – Inclusive Society – Le Planning Familial – Oxfam France – Regards de Femmes – Solthis – WECF France
Mexico City
Xochitepetl Human Rights Association – Interdisciplinary Studies Law Firm – UNESCO Chair in Human Rights, UNAM – Center for Research on Equity, Public Policy, and Development, CIPE – Gender Studies Circle, Chihuahua – Women's Communication and Information Association (CIMAC) – Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equity Oaxaca A.C. – National Coordinator of Indigenous Women CONAMI Mexico – Enlace Continental de Mujeres Indígenas Región México – Equidad de Género, Ciudadanía, Trabajo y Familia A.C. – Federación Mexicana de Universitarias A.C. – Girls Not Brides LAC – Grupo Asesor de Sociedad Civil para el Foro de Generación Igualdad en México – Musas de Metal Gay Women's Group A.C. – CEDAW Citizen Network – International Network of Journalists with a Gender Perspective – National Network of Journalists – National Network of Rural Promoters and Advisors – The Hunger Project Mexico – GAMAG (Global Alliance on Media and Gender)
Press contacts:
Louis Guinamard – louis.guinamard@equipop.org – 33 (0)6 25 83 95 23
