Across Latin America, heads of state have been largely compliant with the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 recommendations — with the notable exceptions of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. Governments have closed borders, shut schools, and non-essential businesses, and are urging the population to stay at home. However, confinement at home brings with it a whole host of new challenges and risks for millions in the Americas — particularly women.
According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), reports of gender-based violence and demand for emergency shelters...