As the cases of people that had contracted the virus begun to rise in Zambia, the reality of the measures put in place to contain COVID-19 became eminent; unsettling several sectors of the economy such as those in the tourism and hospitality arena, hence businesses such as bars, restaurants, gyms and casinos had to shut-down in order to minimise social interaction which directly contributed to the. [...] The Zambia Police observed that during the initial stage of the pandemic, victims of GBV were hesitant to report cases due to misinterpretation of some COVID-19 preventive measures such as the Social Distancing and Stay at Home campaigns. [...] Given the increased vulnerability of women and girls resulting from the socio-economic challenges of COVID-19, safeguarding the lives of vulnerable groups is critical in order to cushion the shocks of coping with effects of the pandemic. [...] Increase in Poverty, Loss of Jobs and Livelihoods Women already in situations of poverty and high vulnerability to social exclusion bore the worst brunt of the effects of the pandemic, particularly, the elderly, persons with disabilities and children. [...] Not only does COVID-19 expose women’s precarious economic position and security particularly in the sectors that are considered ‘feminine’ such as the care and hospitality sector as they have been the most affected, the economic impacts are likely to have long term effects on the livelihoods of women and vulnerable groups, especially those in the informal economy.
- Pages
- 12
- Published in
- Zambia
