Tag: International Women’s Day
Enhanced Access to Data Can Reduce the Gender Gap
On International Women’s Day, researchers from the FREE Network institutes released the policy brief “Closing the Gender Data Gap” to highlight the crucial role of data in addressing economic inequalities between women and men. The brief explores how improved data collection and access can help reduce the gender gap across labor markets, income, education, pensions, and caregiving responsibilities.
Why Better Data Matters for Gender Equality
In recent decades, progress in documenting historical developments and expanding access to new data sources has significantly improved our understanding of the different economic outcomes experienced by women and men. Today, researchers have deeper insights into:
- Labor market participation and outcomes
- Income levels and wealth accumulation
- Educational investments and pension systems
- Consumption and household decision-making
- Caregiving responsibilities and time use
These insights show that better data reduces the gender gap by revealing disparities and helping shape effective policy responses.
Key Findings
The policy brief emphasizes that to effectively design policies and strategies, data must be more accurate, comprehensive, and regularly updated. The researchers outline four critical recommendations:
- Increase access to digitized information – Governments and public institutions should make more administrative and statistical data available for research.
- Support funding for surveys – Combining survey data with administrative sources enhances both detail and reliability.
- Ensure regular data collection – Continuous monitoring allows researchers to measure the impact of major events such as legislation, conflicts, pandemics, or natural disasters.
- Leverage innovative data sources – Mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms provide new perspectives on socio-economic trends and gender disparities.
About the Authors
The policy brief “Closing the Gender Data Gap” was authored by:
- Michal Myck (CenEA)
- Monika Oczkowska (CenEA)
- Pamela Campa (SITE)
- Maria Perrotta Berlin (SITE)
- Jesper Roine (SITE)
Media Contact
For press or media inquiries, please contact: Maria Perrotta Berlin, Professor at SITE, Phone: 0737332198, Email: Maria.Perrotta [at] hhs.se
Securing Women’s Safety at the Time of War
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, millions of women are facing grave risks from displacement, violence, and loss. On this International Women’s Day, it is crucial to recognize the unique challenges women experience during armed conflicts — from direct violence to long-term psychological and economic harm. Evidence from past wars shows that gender-based violence increases sharply during and after conflicts, demanding urgent international attention and support.
Women’s Vulnerability During the Ukraine War
The war in Ukraine has caused immense human suffering, forcing over 1.5 million people to flee by early March 2022. Russian attacks have targeted cities, disrupted humanitarian aid, and endangered civilians. Research shows that women in war zones face multiple layers of risk — including sexual violence, psychological abuse, and displacement-related exploitation. Gender-based violence often extends beyond physical assault, encompassing coercion, loss of freedom, and systemic mistreatment (Wirtz et al., 2014).
Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War
Scholars now recognize sexual violence in armed conflicts as a deliberate tool of warfare rather than random brutality (Skjelsbaek, 2001). Studies indicate that aggressors from gender-unequal societies are more likely to use such violence (Taylor, 1999; Meger, 2016; Guarnieri & Tur-Prats, 2020). Even after fleeing, women face heightened threats in refugee camps, where sexual and domestic violence often persist (Araujo et al., 2019; Stark & Ager, 2011).
Protecting Women in Conflict and Displacement
Governments, humanitarian organizations, and the international community must prioritize women’s safety, justice, and empowerment. Key steps include:
- Ensuring safe evacuation from conflict zones.
- Holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable, with zero tolerance for impunity.
- Including sexual violence in sanctions regimes, per UN Security Council Resolution 1820.
- Involving refugee women in leadership roles in protection programs.
- Providing training and awareness on gender-based violence prevention.
- Enabling legal work opportunities for displaced women to prevent exploitation.
- Offering mental health and trauma support for survivors.
A Call for Global Solidarity
As we hope for peace and the safe return of displaced families, this International Women’s Day should serve as a call to action — to strengthen protection for women, prevent gender-based violence in conflict, and ensure justice for survivors.
The FREE Network and the Forum for Research on Gender Economics (FROGEE) continue to advocate for women’s safety and empowerment, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
References
- Araujo, J. D. O., Souza, F. M. D., Proença, R., Bastos, M. L., Trajman, A., & Faerstein, E. (2019). Prevalence of sexual violence among refugees: a systematic review. Revista de saude publica, 53.
- Meger, S. (2016). Rape loot pillage: The political economy of sexual violence in armed conflict. Oxford University Press
- Ray S, Heller L. (2009). Peril or protection: the link between livelihoods and gender-based violence in displacement settings. New York (NY): Women’s Refugee Commission.
- Skjelsbaek, I. (2001). Sexual violence and war: Mapping out a complex relationship. European journal of international relations, 7(2), 211-237.
- Spangaro, J., Adogu, C., Ranmuthugala, G., Powell Davies, G., Steinacker, L., & Zwi, A. (2013).What evidence exists for initiatives to reduce risk and incidence of sexual violence in armed conflict and other humanitarian crises? A systematic review. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(5):1–13.
- Spangaro, J., Adogu, C., Zwi, A. B., Ranmuthugala, G., & Davies, G. P. (2015). Mechanisms underpinning interventions to reduce sexual violence in armed conflict: A realist-informed systematic review. Conflict and health, 9(1), 1-14.
- Stark, L., & Ager, A. (2011). A systematic review of prevalence studies of gender-based violence in complex emergencies. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 12(3), 127-134.
- Taylor, C. C. (1999). A gendered genocide: Tutsi women and Hutu extremists in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. PoLAR, 22, 42.
- Willman, A. M., & Corman, C. (2013). Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: What is the World Bank Doing and What Have We Learned, A Strategic Review. Washington (DC): World Bank.
- Wirtz, A. L., Pham, K., Glass, N., Loochkartt, S., Kidane, T., Cuspoca, D., & Vu, A. (2014). Gender-based violence in conflict and displacement: qualitative findings from displaced women in Colombia. Conflict and health, 8(1), 1-14.
- UNHCR. (2011). Action against sexual and gender-based violence: an updated strategy. Geneva: UNHCR Division of International Protection.