This primer highlights practical ways Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff can take action to ensure COVID-19 response and recovery decision-making addresses women’s needs. It is informed by the differential impacts of the disease on women as documented to date, and the common needs and challenges expressed by MPs and parliamentary staff adapting to new priorities and ways of working around the world.

A checklist is included to guide MPs and parliamentary staff on gender-sensitive options for COVID-19 response and recovery during and beyond the pandemic.

Sarah Childs and Sonia Palmieri (2020). A primer for parliamentary action: Gender-sensitive responses to COVID-19