In the spotlight: women's rights seriously impacted by the health crisis

Audio 04:50

Women shout slogans during a rally marking International Women's Day in Karachi on March 8, 2021. © Rizwan Tabassum / AFP

By: Véronique Rigolet Follow

10 mins

Publicity

This is the obvious statement in the editorials of the international press.

The coronavirus has worsened existing inequalities

 ", explains the

Guardian

, which notes that " 

if men are more likely to die from Covid, women (they) have suffered the greatest economic and social blows

 " from the health crisis.

They have paid the price for the increase in care, have been more likely to lose their jobs and they have seen a sharp increase in domestic violence

 ", further underlines the London daily which concludes " 

that the pandemic has shown that" we cannot continue like this

 ”.

An opinion shared by the Australian daily

The Age

, which demands from the federal government "

a recovery plan focused on women

 " with among the priority measures " 

that childcare becomes permanently free

 ".

The “

parity

” requirement

In Japan, where the recent ousting of the boss of the Olympics for sexist remarks has marked the spirits, the

Japan Times

welcomes " 

an important step forward to change the outdated attitudes of the country towards women

 ", but calls for going further to achieve to “ 

gender equality

 ”.

More than a social issue, it is an economic opportunity

 ", estimates the

Japan Times

which quotes a report by Goldman Sachs according to which " 

the reduction of the gap of parity between the sexes could increase by 10% the GDP of Japan

 ".

Finally, the Swiss daily Le Temps puts forward women in the conquest of space, an area " 

for the moment predominantly male

 ".

The man walked on the Moon, the woman will walk on Mars

 ", promises us the daily newspaper which notes that "entirely female crews" are preparing in the United States for the future exploration of the red planet, and in Russia a mission 100% female is planned for the Moon in 2029.

Switzerland bans the full veil

The people say no to the burqa

 ", headlines

Le Temps

which notes that the " 

result was closer than expected

 ".

With a narrow majority of just over 51%, the Swiss yesterday approved the initiative for "

the ban on hiding the face

 " in public space.

As “

France, Belgium and Austria

 ”

have already done 

, notes the

Guardian

, which emphasizes that the country's federal government “ 

had opposed the proposal for such a referendum arguing that the wearing the full veil was a marginal phenomenon in Switzerland

 ”.

About thirty people

 ", at most recognizes

Le Temps,

which nevertheless welcomes the fact that "the 

campaign did not slip up and that several personalities from the Muslim community took part in it

 ".

A vote on the other hand denounced in the German press.

For the

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

the yes vote is not only a victory for the xenophobic forces of the country, it is a hard blow for freedoms and in particular freedom of religion

 ".

The interview with Harry and Meghan, a bomb for the British monarchy?

An interview which contained enough shells to sink a flotilla

", estimates the

Daily Telegraph

  while the

Times

speaks of "a 

devastating interview

 " during which Prince Harry and his wife Meghan denounced " 

the insensitivity of the Firm

 " , the British crown, and even " 

his racist reflections

 " which, according to them, would have targeted their son Archie and his possible skin color even before his birth.

Attacks that could " 

inflict damage on the monarchy

 ", the British press stirred, while for its part the American press played down.

For the

Washington Post

, there is " 

no irreparable harm

 " in the eyes of the public, for good reason explains the

Post that

after the broadcast of The Crown series, many people already think " 

that the monarchy is distant. and dysfunctional

 ”.

And underlines the daily, this is also how " 

Harry and Meghan described them yesterday, as a

" trapped family "

in their role and who live

" in fear of the press "".

Toronto on alert for raccoon attacks

This is information from the

National Post

that warns residents of Canada's largest city, Toronto against its thousands of raccoons whose attacks have "increased by 62% this year."

Blame it on the pandemic, explains the Canadian daily which underlines " 

that the inhabitants confined in their own city spent much more time outside than usual

" and therefore " 

multiplied the meetings with the raccoons

 " unaccustomed to see so many people outside.

The municipality therefore reminded its inhabitants that raccoons were " 

wild animals, like coyotes that are also sometimes encountered in the city

 " and " 

that it is therefore advisable not to approach them, nor to pet them.

 ". 

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