Proposed temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s in London
A joint letter, emphasising child poverty in London and urging the reconsideration of the proposed temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s.
Press Release
'At the end of this immediate emergency we cannot return to business as usual.'
Covid-19 is a global public health crisis which is fast developing into a full-blown economic crisis. This has specific and different impact on men and women and there has been an ongoing failure to take the different economic position of women and men into account.
Data shows that 73% of Covid 19 critical care cases in England, Wales and NI are men. However, women are vulnerable to the impacts of the Covid 19 crisis in many other ways.
Our briefing Crises Collide: Women and Covid-19 sets out the immediate impact that Covid- 19 crisis is having on women that needs to be addressed. Our briefing highlights that at the end of this immediate emergency we cannot return to business as usual.
Full report can be accessed here
Over the last few weeks, the Government has demonstrated unprecedented agility in responding to the economic impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. This demonstrates that change is both desirable and possible. We are calling on the Government to go further to ensure that women, particularly vulnerable groups, are being protected by the impact of Covid- 19.
Key Recommendations
Women’s Budget Group Director Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson said:
“Our analysis on the gendered impact of Covid- 19 shows that women are facing the highest risks of exposure and economic shocks to the pandemic. The failure to take in to account the different economic position of women and men and the specific challenges women face – including their higher rates of poverty, homelessness, disproportionate load of unpaid care work and widespread violence against women – could see us going backwards on women’s equality.
The response to the economic downturn ahead cannot be further austerity, unfettered consumption and individualism. We must learn lessons from this crisis to do things differently to prioritise both people and planet, care and community.”
Further reading:
Full report can be accessed here
A full list of all our gendered analysis of Covid- 19 can be found here.
Sign up to receive regular updates from WBG on the gendered impact of Covid- 19 as it develops.
Media enquiries:
Thaira Mhearban, Communications Officer: thaira.mhearban@wbg.org.uk / 07736 658951
Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director: maryann.stephenson@wbg.org.uk / 07957 338582
The Women’s Budget Group (WBG) is an independent network of leading academic researchers, policy experts and campaigners.
Our vision is of a caring economy that promotes equality between women and men.
Twitter: @WomensBudgetGrp
A joint letter, emphasising child poverty in London and urging the reconsideration of the proposed temporary suspension of free travel for under 18s.
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A Pre Budget Briefing by the UK Women’s Budget Group on 'Housing, Gender, and Covid-19' - Spring 2021
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