The gendered impacts of Covid-19

UN Women (2022-2023)

The impacts of crises are never gender neutral and Covid-19 was no exception. Women and vulnerable groups had limited access to essential resources and suffered health, social, and financial difficulties.

For this project, Ruom partnered with UN Women with support from The People of Japan fund to create a series of videos, articles, and photographs in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand. Our work looked into the pivotal role of women and girls in the COVID-19 response and recovery processes, highlighting that crises like the pandemic disproportionately affect them. Women and other vulnerable groups faced heightened challenges, including limited access to essential resources and enduring health, social, and financial hardships. Our multimedia productions aimed to spotlight these issues and advocate for gender-inclusive responses to crises.

Team

Regional

An overview video looking at the lives of women in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. UN Women partnered with organisations, governments and civil societies to address the disproportionate gender-based risks and negative impact of COVID-19.

Cambodia

Meet Touch Vanra, a Cambodian recycling working in Poipet, she was part of many Khmer’s deported back to Cambodia during the pandemic. UN Women worked with civil society and Cambodia border officers to ensure women had access to COVID-19 information, helping to end violence against women and safeguard their rights.

Thailand

Meet Amran Moosu, who works with the Coordination Center for Children and Women, a grassroots organisation working with women and families in Southern Thailand. UN Women partnered with CCCW to help women support themselves and work to increase women’s participation in economic recovery efforts in Thailand.

Laos

Meet Thongvan Phanthavong, a farmer in remote Northern Laos, during COVID-19 she had to take out a loan to be able to get by and look after her family. UN Women partnered with Oxfam to ensure women had access to the vaccines they needed to return to work safely.

Vietnam

Meet Tong Thi Thu Ha, an office worker in Northern Vietnam. During COVID-19 she saw how women were more affected than men in her community. UN Women provided funds and protective equipment and campaigned for women to be included in COVID-19 leadership task forces.