The present report is a first attempt to assess potential consequences of the covid-19 outbreak on women and on gender equality in Europe. The report was produced in April 2020, with the aim of informing policy making about the possible impacts of the crisis. Timing does not allow for reporting about actual impacts, as there is hardly any data available on the topic yet. Instead, this work provides an overview of the status quo in some relevant aspects of gender inequalities before the crisis and makes informed predictions on what is likely to happen during the crisis and also after.

The outbreak has increased the need for care work both outside and inside homes in an unprecedented manner. As “normally” women do a disproportionally large share of the unpaid work in most of the EU countries, there is a great risk that they will take up the major part of the increased responsibilities as well. If forced to reduce work hours or unable to deliver properly while teleworking – not only their wellbeing but also their longer-term labour market prospects will suffer. Moreover, the current crisis is not only – and not even mainly – threatening men-dominated employment sectors, but is likely to hit women (at least) as much as men. Coping with the increased burden at home and making ends meet at the same time can be particularly difficult for already vulnerable groups such as single mothers.

However, the crisis did not induce risks only, it also created some new opportunities to move towards a more gender-neutral distribution of work. Teleworking men are in a very good position to observe the unpaid labour usually carried out by female household members and to start sharing these duties. A shift in the distribution of work in these households may last after the crisis – especially if newly evolving teleworking opportunities will be maintained and used both by men and by women once the crisis will be over. At the time being it is hard to predict if the negative or the positive effects will dominate in the longer term. The report argues that variations by social groups as well as across countries can be expected and a lot can depend on how policy making respondsto these challenges.

In times of crisis and social isolation, the risk of domestic abuse increases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, each country is asking its citizens to stay at home, which implies sharing the same space with one’s abuser if one isexperiencing domestic violence. Several Member States have acknowledged the risk and introduced various measures to better support potential victims – but more needs to be done. Importantly, the role of women’s shelters should be reinforced as it is a valid means of reaching out to women out and making citizens more aware of gender-based violence.

An important crosscutting theme in gender-equality that affects all the aspects discussed in this report is the unequal representation of males and females in decision-making processes. The lack of gender balance and gender lens in global COVID-19 decision-making drives away from making gender equality a reality. The COVID-19 crisis should be seen as an opportunity to challenge the social dynamics in a way that benefits both women and men.

The report concludes with a set of policy recommendations that can help mitigating the damages and realisingthe potential benefits that the COVID-19 outbreak has brought about on the equality between men and women in Europe.

Factsheet and explainer on the main issues regarding intersectionality in STEM. Produced by Engendering Success in STEM (ESS). ESS is a research partnership focused on evidence-based solutions. The shared goal of our research is to foster women’s inclusion and success in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). We bring together social scientists, STEM experts, and stakeholders in STEM industry and education to use an evidence-based approach to break down the biases girls and women face on their pathway to success. Funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canada.

The aim of the research project is to demonstrate the added value of the gender perspective for cli-mate protection and adaptation and, conversely, to demonstrate to what extent the appropriate design of climate policy measures can contribute to gender justice.

A comprehensive literature review provides an overview of the state of the art of research on gender relationships and climate change, highlights the relevance of the interaction between these two areas, identifies gaps in knowledge and identifies opportunities for a more effective and gender-equitable climate policy.

The increasing importance of gender perspectives for an effective climate policy was triggered by the decisions and mandates on gender equality and justice in the international climate negotiations. In order to implement these at the national level, the research project developed analytical categories to examine the structurally unequal power relations based on sex and gender as well as their causes and manifestations in various areas of society, the so-called gender dimensions.

Informed by analyses based on these gender dimensions, political impacts of measures on gender relations were identified and recommendations were generated. These gender dimensions were also used for the further development of Gender Impact Assessment (GIA) for climate policies. As the result of a test and commentary phase, a practice-oriented guidance was developed.

In the course of an impact, data and methods needs analysis, the gender dimensions were used for the analysis of three climate policy programmes and strategies (Climate Action Plan 2050, NKI's Local Measures Program and German Adaptation Strategy) in order to provide suggestions on how these could be more gender-oriented.

The results show opportunities for improving gender equality at many levels. Principles for integrat-ing gender equality into climate policy were derived, as were concrete policy recommendations on climate protection legislation and gender action plans. Important findings also arise for methods, data needs and data collection as well as research needs and regulations. Finally, recommendations are given on the financing and promotion as well as on the dissemination of knowledge and the strength-ening of competence.

Policy brief produced by Prof Olena Hankivsky (Gender and Women's Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Health Equity, University of Melbourne) and Prof Anuj Kapilashrami (Centre for Global Public Health, Queen Mary University of London).

In this COVID-19 pandemic, emerging popular refrains like ‘we’re all in this together’ and ‘we will come through this together’ echo across media. But who is this ‘we’? While it’s true that the entire globe is being affected, health risks, burdens, experiences and outcomes aren’t the same for everyone. The outbreak has prompted calls to better understand its differential impacts. For example, UN General Secretary António Gutteres has appealed for consideration of women’s needs in combating COVID-19. Others have criticized the gender-neutral approach to pandemics in general, including the lack of gender expertise in pandemic planning, outbreak response and post-pandemic recovery.