UNITED NATIONS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Supporting the UN secretary-general's call for solidarity and urgent action in response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, an initial group of prominent women on Monday joined a global advocacy effort to save lives and protect livelihoods, urging leaders in all countries, across all sectors, to address the human crisis of the pandemic.
Convened by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, "Rise for All," an initiative which calls on all leaders to meet the human crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully fund the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund, brings together women leaders to mobilize support for the UN roadmap to tackle the development emergency, as laid out in the United Nations Framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19: Shared responsibility, global solidarity and urgent action for people in need, issued Monday.
"Like no other time in recent history, women are on the frontlines of COVID-19 and bearing the brunt of this human crisis," the UN deputy secretary-general said at a virtual press conference. "It is time for us to rise as women leaders, taking action to conquer the pandemic and come out stronger so as to keep the world on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030."
The first to join this cohort are the President of Ethiopia Sahle-Work Zewde, the Prime Minister of Norway and Sustainable Development Goals Advocate of the secretary-general Erna Solberg, Sustainable Development Goals Advocate of the secretary-general Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, Sustainable Development Goals Advocate of the secretary-general Dia Mirza, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador of Pakistan Muniba Mazari, along with the executive directors of the UN Children's Fund Henrietta Fore, of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and of UN Population Fund Natalia Kanem.
Together, the women are supporting the United Nations' call for an extraordinary scale-up of international support and political commitment to "build back better" and ensure that people everywhere have access to essential services and social protection. This includes support for the UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, an inter-agency mechanism designed to help those countries and people most exposed to the economic hardship and social disruption the pandemic has caused, said Amina Mohammed.
The fund aims to mobilize 1 billion U.S. dollars over the first nine months, and 2 billion dollars over two years, to support low- and middle-income countries, including small island developing states and vulnerable groups such as women and children who are disproportionately bearing the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, said a press release obtained by Xinhua.
The Netherlands on Monday announced an initial contribution of 15 million Euros (16.6 million dollars) to the fund, following in the footsteps of Norway and Denmark, which have thus far pledged 150 million Norwegian Krone (14.1 million dollars) and 50 million Danish Krone (7.3 million dollars), respectively, it said.
Over the coming weeks, more women leaders, including from the political, multilateral and business sectors, are expected to join "Rise for All," adding their voices in support of the UN roadmap for social and economic recovery, and to advocate a fully funded COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, according to the press release. Enditem
