The Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) is deeply concerned by the growing adverse effect of the economic meltdown on women. The worsening economic situation has adversely affected women and is continuously pushing a large number of them into poverty everyday.
Staple food and other basic goods have risen beyond the reach of most ordinary families particularly female led households. At the same time, social safety net services that are mostly used by women such as health, shelter, education, pensions, water and sanitation and electricity are on the decline. As a result, vulnerability has increased among women and girls.
WALPE therefore, appeals to the Government to urgently address the prevailing economic crisis to relieve the suffering of women and girls by, among others: Ensuring the above mentioned social safety net services are affordable and provided in a consistent and timely manner; Create job opportunities for women; Actively involve women in identifying gender sensitive solutions to the current economic challenges.
Failure to immediately address the impasse will further exacerbate the plight of women and girls and potentially lead to other serious problems such as trauma and mental health issues. The current economic hardship is also taking a toll on women’s active and full participation in leadership as they are preoccupied with fending their families hence the urgent call for solutions to stabilise the economy.
Source: Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE)
