Month: December 2020

Women’s economic inequality also increases their vulnerability to trafficking and sexual violence, according to UN Women, which promotes gender equality…reports Asian Lite News

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The Covid-19 pandemic is heightening the dangers of gender-based violence and human trafficking for women and girls, UN officials have said.

“In every part of the world, we are seeing that Covid has worsened the plight of at-risk women and girls, while also hindering criminal justice responses and reducing support to victims,” Ghada Waly, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said on Monday during a virtual event on global commitment for women and girls amid the pandemic.

According to the UNODC, women and girls were already being exposed to different forms of violence before the pandemic, and they make up more than 60 per cent of all victims of human trafficking, Xinhua news agency reported.

However, lockdowns and other measures implemented in the wake of the global health crisis have led to a “shadow pandemic” of rising gender-based violence, it added.

Women’s economic inequality also increases their vulnerability to trafficking and sexual violence, according to UN Women, which promotes gender equality.

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said that most female survivors, or nearly 80 per cent, are trafficked for sexual exploitation.

“There are socioeconomic consequences when these crimes happen, but in times of pandemic, the socioeconomic impact is even deeper,” she said.

Thank you @nadiainitiative, @UN_Women, @GermanyUN, and all the #WomenDefenders for joining us at the #LockedDownLockedIn event to combat the #COVID19 effect on gender-based violence and to discuss actions to #EndHumanTrafficking. @BlueHeartHT @UNODC_HTMSS https://t.co/IOpCdShR9U

— UN Office on Drugs & Crime (@UNODC) December 1, 2020

“Forty-seven million more women and girls will be pushed to extreme poverty because of Covid-19, but business is booming for traffickers,” she said.

In April, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for a worldwide domestic violence “ceasefire”, urging governments to put women’s safety first as they respond to the crisis.

So far, nearly 150 countries have answered the secretary-general’s call, pledging to make prevention and redress of gender-based violence a key part of their pandemic response.

UNODC, UN Women and other partners are also backing the appeal.

Also read:Canada unveils new stimulus package

Details of the stimulus program worth C$70 billion to C$100 billion will be budgeted over the next three fiscal years starting from April 1, 2021…reports Asian Lite News

The Canadian government has unveiled a new financial program to boost the country’s economy amid the raging coronavirus pandemic.

Titled “Supporting Canadians and Fighting Covid-19”, the 237-page fiscal update launched on Monday offers a revised look at the Canadian economy and the impact of the ongoing pandemic-induced recession on the country’s economic outlook, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The coming months will be difficult and ongoing fiscal support will remain necessary deep into 2021 in order to protect jobs and prevent widespread permanent losses in our economy,” the Canadian government said in a statement.

Details of the stimulus program worth C$70 billion to C$100 billion will be budgeted over the next three fiscal years starting from April 1, 2021.

The country’s national deficit is projected to hit at least C$381.6 billion for this fiscal year, up from the forecast of C$343.2 billion in July.

The government’s immediate priority is to do whatever it takes to help Canadians and businesses stay safe and solvent amid the pandemic challenge, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said at the Canadian House of Commons Monday afternoon.

As we battle #COVID19, Canadians are in for a hard winter. But we know that spring will surely follow. We have a plan. We understand what we must do to get through the dark months ahead. And then, to bring our economy roaring back. pic.twitter.com/ZMVHiwSaO1

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) November 30, 2020

“We will invest in every necessary and helpful public health measure. And we will support Canadian families and Canadian businesses, in a deliberate, prudent and effective way,” she said, adding that the government plans to make the post-pandemic economy “more innovative, inclusive and resilient than the one that preceded it”.

“Spending roughly 3 to 4 per cent of the GDP, over three years, our government will make carefully judged, targeted and meaningful investments to create jobs and boost growth,” she said.

The risks associated with not providing enough economic support right now outweigh those involved in spending too much, the Minister said, adding that the government will keep monitoring the employment rate, total hours worked and the level of unemployment in the economy to determine when to end the stimulus spending.

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The updated program includes several policy announcements.

The Canadian government is moving ahead with a promise to require international digital companies such as Netflix to collect and remit federal sales tax on digital sales.

It is also planning restrictions on stock option deduction.

A plan to offset the cost of energy retrofits for homeowners will receive C$2.6 billion over seven years, and an existing program to build electric vehicle charging stations will receive an additional C$150 million.

The government is also increasing the maximum Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy rate from 65 per cent to 75 per cent, starting December 20 and continuing until March 13, 2021.

Also read:Canada Reports New Record Of 1374,051 Cases