UNFPA advocates for women, girls suffering unseen impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

Geneva -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is pledging support for those suffering from invisible impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including women and girls whose access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health care may be disrupted.

Executive Director of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, Natalia Kanem, said in a statement today that the Fund's work is ramping up even as the novel coronavirus continues to test health care systems around the world. She warned that women, girls and health workers must not be overlooked as the world responds to the greatest health crisis in a century.

As in most crises, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted access to critical sexual and reproductive health services and hampered authorities' ability to respond to gender-based violence, at a time when women and girls need these services most. UNFPA is helping governments prioritize the special needs of women and girls...