seen it in appalling increase of economic inequality particularly for women and girls around the world. and a really frightening increase of violence against women and girls which is a direct result of the pressures of the pandemic. it will not help us to come out of this moment if all we tackle is the vaccine. we need to be putting policies, funding into place to prevent violence against women and girls around the world which is a shadow pandemic which is stalking the globe right now. unfortunately the globe right now. unfortunately the uk government has made public statements, which we really welcome about violence against women and girls, behind the scenes, the funding is disappearing. frances longley is ceo of actionaid — the international charity.