Achieving an equal future in a COVID 19 world

Women are at the forefront of the COVID 19 crisis; as health workers, caregivers, researchers, community organisers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in the fight against the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burden women have to bear.

This year's theme for International Women's Day, "Women in leadership: achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world" celebrates the tremendous efforts of women and girls around the world in building a more equal future and overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, it is a reminder of how disadvantaged women still are in both the Global North and the Global South. The pandemic has even worsened the situation; domestic violence, school dropouts and adolescent pregnancies are on the rise again, especially in countries with a strict lockdown. In some cases, participants in Horyzon's programmes are also showing increased signs of malnutrition and domestic violence.

This shows all the more how urgently necessary the work of Horyzon and its partner organisations is. Work that seeks to sustainably improve the situation of young women in the global South, whether through training in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, prevention of sexual violence or through income generation and tutoring.

You too can support our work and help to make the world a little fairer, especially for girls and young women.