How Legislation Can Support Women In Times of Crisis

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How Legislation Can Support Women In Times of Crisis

14 mars 2022 13:07

Women according to concordant statistics, constitute the majority of the worlds’ population but unfortunately they are the most vulnerable in times of crisis. In crisis period like the covid-19 pandemic or socio-political upheavals, the preexisting rights of women are sometimes further curtailed by the dictates of the situation. It is therefore requisite for governments to undertake legislative reforms in a bid to safeguard and promote women’s rights especially those that touch on their economic empowerment. The 2022 edition of the World Bank Report on “Women, Business and the Law, the eighth in a series of annual reports highlights how legislation can support women in times of crisis. According to the World Bank Group Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Carmen Reinhart, as the world enters the third year of the pandemic, continued threats to health, safety, and livelihoods have exacerbated pre-existing inequalities and injustices. Despite their key role in development, women are often the most adversely affected by crises. As a group, they are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of economic downturns; the available evidence suggests that the downturn caused by COVID-19 is no exception. By revealing how discriminatory laws prevent women from fully and equally contributing to their economies, Women, Business and the Law makes the case for concrete reforms toward gender equality. Legal reforms to encourage and incentivize women’s work not only empower women but also strengthen communities and economies. The World Bank report states that since October 2020, 23 economies have introduced reforms strengthening women’s legal status, thereby setting a powerful example for their peers. The regions furthest behind like the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, have been catching up and instituted the most positive changes. Globally, many of the new laws provide more benefits to working parents and have improved gender equality in the workplace. However, gender activists argue that a lot more still needs to be don...