The COVID-19 response: what has women, peace and security got to do with it?

We urgently need to understand the specific risks of COVID-19 for conflict-affected women and girls, with the most vulnerable countries to COVID-19 being conflict zones and fragile states. Michelle Spearing and Naomi Clugston of Social Development Direct tell us of the importance of grassroots women’s networks in mobilising a response and call on governments, donors and INGO’s to fund these networks, protect and empower women and prioritise gender-based violence in order to maintain and adapt current programmes.