Impact of the global economic crisis on women, girls and gender equality

This paper outlines the impacts of the global economic crisis on women, girls and gender equality in order to advocate for sustained investment in this area. To capture the full impact of the crisis on women and girls, the paper provides a summary of evidence from high-, middle- and lowincome countries across the globe, with a focus on countries with a high burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  It draws on various sources of information, including a review of the literature, relevant documents from the public and private sectors, an analysis of relevant databases, and interviews with notable scholars and professionals in the fields of economics and gender equality. In order to better understand the long-term effects of the crisis on gender equality, this paper is divided into the impacts of the crisis at three levels: global (trade patterns, commodity prices), national (public-sector investment, stimulus packages, employment), and individual/community (social and economic empowerment, food consumption, healthseeking behaviour).