As cases of COVID-19 increased and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic, reports on the gendered impacts of the virus streamed in. While acknowledging that there have been higher mortality rates among men, women's rights organizations called for attention to other, less initially visible repercussions faced by women and girls. Due to their disproportionate representation within the healthcare sector, for example, women may be at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 (CARE, 2020). That women are still the primary caregivers within the home could also increase their likelihood of exposure, not to mention jeopardize women's financial security or career progression as schools and paid care options close shop with unclear plans for reopening (Topping, 2020). These few examples are the beginning of a longer list of gendered repercussions that some say may set back gender equality progress by decades (Topping, 2020.).

In the wake of this reality, Simone de Beauvoir's warning continuously comes to mind: ‘Never forget that a political, economic or religious crisis will be enough to cast doubts on women's rights. These rights will never be vested’. Barring the omission of ‘pandemic’ from de Beauvoir's list of crises, her words unfortunately could not be truer, even a half a century since they were written.

Without a doubt, the most grievous violation of women's rights during COVID-19 is the rise of gender-based violence (GBV). GBV is any harmful act that is perpetrated against someone's will and based on socially ascribed gender differences and can include acts of physical, sexual or mental harm, and threats or acts of coercion in public or private (Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2015: 5). The detrimental impacts of GBV should not be understated: they can be life changing and long term, causing forced pregnancy, physical injuries, mental health issues and even death.

Although anyone can experience GBV, women and girls are at greater risk than men and boys (Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2015: 5), and persons with intersecting identities – such as women and girls with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer (LGBTIQ) persons – may face higher rates of GBV (OutRight Action International, 2020).