Generation Equality Forum (Paris)

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected adolescent girls and young women across multiple outcomes, including education, livelihoods, sexual and reproductive health, sexual and gender-based violence, the burden of unpaid care, and early and forced marriage. These heightened barriers to economic and social opportunities and the resulting loss of human capital have the potential to derail progress towards gender equality unless recognized and addressed. These inequities have impacted women and girls even more during lockdowns. Reports emerging during the current times have shown that women and girls have been subject to more violence and discrimination along with a lack of access to resources, education, and health services. 

Objectives of the event 

To draw attention to the challenges faced by adolescent girls, that must be addressed as part of the COVID-19 response and recovery, the proposed event at the Generation Equality Forum aims to:

1. Spotlight challenges faced by adolescent girls in different regions across the world due to COVID-19, share best practices, and inspire action to address these challenges through multisectoral approaches.
2. Raise awareness about the Call to Action for Adolescents and mobilize support from young people, partners, and member states for it.
3. Identify key issues that will inform the agenda for the Global Summit on Adolescent Well-being in 2023 to overcome equity and gender-related barriers across different regions.
4. Promote country commitments to the COVID-19 Call to Action focusing on adolescent health and wellbeing.