The "Women Connect" group calls on the leaders of the G20 countries to work to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality with regard to gender equality

Today, the G20 Women’s Communication Group challenged the leaders of the group’s countries to fulfill their previous promises and bridge the gap between imagination and reality by making women's economic equality a reality.

The Women’s Communication Group delivered its final statement to the representative of the G20 Presidency, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce.

The closing statement includes several key measures needed to accelerate the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WCG also made recommendations to ensure that the G20 achieves the United Nations' sustainable development agenda and the goal of strong, sustainable and balanced growth by supporting women's social and economic empowerment.

The Chair of the Women’s Communication Group, Dr. Thoraya Obaid, said: “If urgent action is not taken, the pandemic will continue to exacerbate gender disparity, expose weaknesses deeply rooted in social, political and economic systems, and undermine any previously achieved gains in equality over recent decades. Women will also be affected negatively and disproportionately, once again, and they will bear the brunt of a multidimensional crisis. "

Dr. Obaid added, "The leaders of the G20 countries must act now. If they do not act during the current year, in the midst of unfolding the disparities in our cultures, policies, programs, public services and how they support women, then when? If not now, as the whole world faces an arduous journey." Towards economic recovery, when?

The Women’s Communication Group expressed the lack of direct recognition yet from the leaders of G20 countries of the impact of the pandemic and national responses to it on women.

So far, relief packages adopted by governments around the world and G20 data have failed to take into account the specific financial and institutional needs of women.

The closing statement presented aims to address these shortcomings and achieve sustainable and lasting change for women worldwide.