Proponents of women's progress have launched a political push in Rome so that global pandemic recovery efforts won't leave women lagging even farther behindROME -- Proponents of women’s progress on Tuesday launched a political push in Rome to ensure that global pandemic recovery efforts won’t leave women lagging even farther behind, with the chief of the European Union's executive arm lamenting the scarcity of women in political leadership positions. While von der Leyen didn't elaborate, she appeared to be referring to the prospect that Angela Merkel would no longer be leading Germany's government after elections in September. “There could be no better reminder of how long the road towards gender equality still is,” von der Leyen said, speaking by video message at the opening of the three-day forum. The European Union is offering member states hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic billions of euros in recovery funds, but with strings attached. Draghi's Minister of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility Enrico Giovannini acknowledged the risk that pandemic recovery funds could end up helping men more than women, especially since many jobs are in the traditionally male-dominated construction sector.

Source: ABC News July 13, 2021 15:45 UTC