BeTeamWomen: Recent Episodes
BeTeamWomen
BeTeamWomen hosted the 39th Facebook Live Discussion focusing on the High-Level Meeting 2021. The High-Level Meeting on AIDS will take place between 8 and 10 June 2021. The high-level meeting will review the progress made in reducing the impact of HIV since the last United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on HIV and AIDS in 2016 and the General Assembly expects to adopt a new political declaration to guide the future direction of the response. The 2021 high-level meeting will be the springboard for a decade of action to reduce inequalities and root out the social determinants that fuel the HIV epidemic. The high-level meeting comes at a historic moment for the AIDS response, 40 years after the emergence of the first cases of HIV and 25 years since the creation of UNAIDS. UNAIDS encourages the highest level of governmental participation in the 2021 high-level meeting and the full engagement of civil society and all other stakeholders through all channels, as agreed in the modalities of the high-level meeting[1].
[1] https://www.unaids.org/en/topic/HLM2021
Women stand at the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, as health care workers, caregivers, innovators, community organizers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in combating the pandemic. The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens that women in all their diversity carry. Women leaders and women’s organizations have demonstrated their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively lead in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Today there is more acceptance than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all.[1]
But still, as the world marks one year of the pandemic, women, on average, still make up only 24 percent of members among 225 COVID-19 task forces examined across 137 countries, as shown by the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker tool that analyses government pandemic policies. And in 26 task forces, there are shockingly no women at all.
As we celebrate women, #BeTeamWomen is pleased to host our 37th Facebook Live Discussion focusing on the International Women’s Day 2021; Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World. The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls in all their diversity around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. From the local to the global level, women’s leadership and political participation are restricted. Women are underrepresented as voters, as well as in leading positions, whether in elected office, the civil service, the private sector or academia. This occurs despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.[2]
Overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and ending new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, both require that we close in on the inequalities that drive vulnerabilities. The new global AIDS strategy 2021–2026 puts the rights and multiple and diverse needs of women and girls across their life cycle at the centre of the response: from preventing vertical transmission to providing access to quality education in safe and supportive environments to ensuring comprehensive sexuality education and holistic sexual and reproductive health services. Gender inequality is not only wrong, but also dangerous and it weakens us all. A more equal world will be better able to respond to pandemics and other shocks; it will leave us healthier and safer and more prosperous.[3]
[1] https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021
[2] https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation
[3] https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/pressreleaseandstatementarchive/2021/march/international-women-day
BeTeamWomen is a global initiative launched by UNAIDS and our global civil society partners through the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA). #BeTeamWomen connects, mobilizes and converges agendas across diverse movements, sectors and generations. With the emphasis on unity and solidarity, we aim to amplify the demand for accountability to commitments made to women’s empowerment, health and rights. Underpinned by the principle of 'intersectionality', #BeTeamWomen harnesses the diverse experiences and expertise of our networks - civil society, SRHR community, government, academia, private sector and the UN - to build a stronger and more unified movement for social and health justice, in order to address the multiple, intersecting and shifting challenges faced by women and girls, in all their diversity.
Staying true to #BeTeamWomen’s commitment to innovative and transformative action, we leverage social media to strengthen, diversify and increase our connections. We provide a platform and space for our networks to converse, interact, share experiences and call for action. Launched in July 2018 during #AIDS2018, #BeTeamWomen has hosted 37 monthly Facebook Live discussions and one-on-one interviews #ProfilesofPower&Purpose, including with H.E. Monica Geingos, First Lady of Namibia, a UNAIDS Special Advocate for Young Women and Adolescent Girls, Dr Nono Simelala, Special Adviser, WHO and Shannon Hader, DEXD UNAIDS and an incredible list of civil society and community activists. Collectively, the conversations, which cover a broad variety of topics, from violence against women, to migration, SRHRH menstrual health, early, forced and child marriage, FGS, HPV and cervical cancer; COVID- 19 and the SRHR of Transgender men, racism and neo-colonialism in development and public health, have reached a global audience of over 279,500 people and the recordings have been viewed over 61,000 times!
BeTeamWomen is pleased to host our 38th Facebook discussion: Profiles of Power & purpose focusing on Young Women in Leadership. When empowered young women rise up together, they break isolation, build solidarity, and strengthen movements that challenge the prevalent social, economic, and political barriers to their vision, voice, and agency. #BeTeamWomen is honoured to host:
Honorable Emma Inamutila Theofelus a young, 25-year-old Namibian born in Windhoek, Namibia and is currently a Member of Parliament and the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in the Republic of Namibia. Before her appointment, Honorable Emma was always policy adjacent and was a Youth Activist around issues of gender, children’s rights, sustainable development and youth unemployment. She served as the Deputy Speaker of the Youth Parliament of the Republic of Namibia and the Junior Mayor of the City of Windhoek amongst other roles. Emma holds an LLB Honours Degree from the University of Namibia, a diploma in Business Management from Amity University and a diploma in Afrikan Feminism and Gender Studies from the University of South Africa. In her new role, Emma plans to better communicate the activities and programs of the Government of the Republic of Namibia and assist in preparing the Namibian nation for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
The gender digital divide persists irrespective of a country’s overall ICT access levels, economic performance, income levels, or geographic location. Women are thus under-represented in the digital revolution across high-, low- and middle-income countries despite the possibilities for marshalling greater equality.