IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON WOMEN IN LIGHT OF THE FIFTH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL OF THE 2030 AGENDA

Abstract

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda composed of 17 goals ("SDGs") and 169 targets was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced that the new disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus which corresponds to COVID-19 may be characterized as a pandemic. Globally, it is estimated that at least three million people died from the virus in 2020. This crisis has exacerbated the already existing inequalities between men and women in the areas of work, family, professional, health, access to technology, education, etc., which reflects that gender disparity disproportionately distributes responsibilities and economically rewards only some of the activities performed by women and girls. This article uses an evaluative methodology to show, from a gender perspective, the level of coherence of some of the most important measures issued by the Colombian government to avert the crisis in relation to SDG 5. It is concluded that these measures are insufficient and inconsistent with the content and scope of SDG 5 and its targets, even though theoretically this regulation aims to print gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, in practice, these have poor development and materialization.