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16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 MARCH 2021 AUDREY JANDIN THE disproportionate effect the COV- ID-19 pandemic has had on women was highlighted during an inter-parliamen- tary meeting about role of women in the fight against COVID-19. "There are many women who have con- tinued to work in key positions while taking care of others. When the schools closed, it was women who took on a dis- proportionate share of the work," Helena Dalli, the European Commissioner for gender equality, said. "We have also seen an increase in violence during confine- ment. Women are over-represented in sectors affected by COVID-19." 61% in the hospitality sector are wom- en at a time when employment fell 23% in the first quarter of 2021 when com- pared to the same quarter in 2020. "Over- all, women worked more and were more likely to lose their jobs," Dalli said, point- ing out that the crisis had exacerbated long-existing inequalities. "We risk losing the progress made and regressing. The needs of women are at the heart of European programmes and funds." Dalli said that measures taken for gen- der equality in the EU stimulus package had been strong. "National plans must contribute to equal opportunities for all. It must be built into all plans. The commission will carefully review the implementation for all of these plans." MEP Evelyn Regner, chair of the wom- en's rights committee (FEMM), agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic was also a female crisis since most of the people bat- tling the virus are women. "Women are more affected by unem- ployment linked to the pandemic and women bear more the burden of domes- tic tasks. To fight against gender-based violence, this issue is a priority," she said of thet fact that one-fifth of women were already affected by violence in the past, and that this had increased by 30%. "We want gender violence to be added under Article 83 of the Treaty of the EU. We believe that we have a chance to seize to strengthen the rights of women as we rebuild our economy in a new way. This should include economic independence, work-life balance, market participation, equal pay, representation, and sexual and reproductive health. A real recovery after this crisis will only work if we have a fair- er, greener and more gender-equal Eu- rope. So we have to make sure that gender issues are mainstreamed everywhere, in- cluding employment, entrepreneurship, and the digital revolution." European Parliament President David Sassoli quoted Simone de Beauvoir: "We must never forget that a political, eco- nomic or religious crisis would suffice for the rights of women be called into ques- tion. These rights will never be acquired. We must remain vigilant and this for the whole of life. " Sassoli said this quote fit perfectly with the crisis Europeans were going through. "The COVID-19 pandemic has not on- ly consolidated certain injustices and inequalities that were already present in our societies. But they risk canceling out decades of conquest concerning the right to work, to the sharing of tasks, care and autonomy in relationships between men and women, to respect and the right to make one' own choices in one's emotion- al relationships. COVID and its crisis may call into question all these achievements." The sectors most economically affected by the pandemic are sectors with a strong female presence, for example tourism, culture, recreation, catering, essential services for personal care. Women make up 76% of the health sec- tor and 86% of aid providers in the EU. Due to the pandemic many women have been forced to work part time, to stay at home to care for children, the elderly, people with disabilities. Poverty in Eu- rope affects more women and those alone with their children. This is a perverse model of our economic and social model at the time of the pandemic. The pandemic demonstrated the im- portance of care of the elderly to society. The work of caring especially entrusted to women today is in fact the responsibility of all and should be regarded as a public good. During confinement, a high number of women suffered violence from their part- ners, men, and therefore in the domestic setting. In some countries it is women who no longer have access to certain health care services, sexual and reproductive rights. "We must certainly fight against the pandemic but curb the social impact it will have on people's lives. We will on- ly succeed if we can protect women and children and put them at the centre of our response," Sassoli said. As a continent at the forefront of the struggle to defend women's rights over the centuries, Europe had to continue promoting true equality for women. "This is a battle that concerns us all. We must not be satisfied with fine words, women must be equal in the places where decisions are made on economic recov- ery," Sassoli said "In many European countries women are engaged in pandemic response strat- egies. The leadership and participation of women determines policies and stimulus programs that are more inclusive and more equal to face this great challenge. Nothing will be the same again. The pan- demic offers us opportunities to review our goals, to build more equal societies. We will not have real transitions whether they are digital or otherwise if there is not more equality in terms of gender parity." Sassoli lamented the fact that the direc- tive on the presence of women on boards of directors is taking too long to enact. "It is a real anachronism that must be overcome. I am convinced that the Eu- ropean Commission will unite with the European Parliament to defend this es- sential directive." Sassoli said the EC must also ensure that the Istanbul Convention on the Rights of Women is ratified by all EU member states. "It is about what we want to be and how we want to live. It is part of our identi- ty card if we are to be a global player, a democratic point of reference," he said. "Violence against women must be added to the crime of a European nature sanc- tioned by treaties so that it does not go unpunished in any member state Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, said the EC wants to introduce binding measures on women's leadership on public companies' boards. She said that by 2030 at least 78% of Eu- ropean adults should have a job, an aim that is only possible with the strong- er participation of women in the labour market. "We need to make progress on the work-life balance, with parental leave for men and parental leave for women, invest in good quality schools, ensure that all parents from all walks of life have access childcare and school for their children. This is empowerment, the freedom to be a woman, a mother and to have a career," Von der Leyen said. European Parliament President David Sassoli This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author's view. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains. 'Women must be at the centre of the recovery after COVID-19' To mark this year's International Women's Day on 8 March, the European Parliament and the Maltese European Commissioner for gender equality, Helena Dalli, underlined the crucial empowerment of women during the COVID-19 crisis