On December 22, 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish an annual International Day to recognise the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities. In welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women); the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other relevant organisations that support and promote the access of women and girls and their participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, training and research activities at all levels decided to proclaim February 11 of each year the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over the past 15 years, the global community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in science. According to the United Nations, women and girls continued to be excluded from participating fully in science. According to a study conducted in 14 countries, the probability for female students of graduating with a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree and Doctorate degree in science-related fields are 18 per cent, 8 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, while the percentages of male students are 37 per cent, 18 per cent and 6 per cent.
In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 (draft A/70/474/Add.2) declaring February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well.
On March 14, 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its 55th session, with agreed conclusions on access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On December 20, 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognised that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The inaugural session of the Commission on Women and Girls in Science and the second commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science will take place on February 10-11 , 2017 in Malta under the theme “Gender, Science and Sustainable Development: The Impact of Media”.
The objective of the forum is to explore ways in which both common global frameworks and regional, sub-regional, national, and local frameworks promote knowledge about and support for women and girls in science. The two-day Forum, hosted by the Government of Malta at the presidential level, will investigate ways in which all actors can work together to ensure that women and girls in science are perceived with dignity and recognised for their abilities.
It is the belief that scientific communication and strengthening the public understanding of science in general and the role of women in science in particular should be leveraged as a cultural instrument, not only to inform or create a context for dialogue, but also to build higher visibility for the scientific research by women. Society needs to acquire scientific knowledge and attitudes for developing cultural heritage since science and society are intrinsically related, and to present this is the role of the media.
Participants will also examine opportunities and challenges at policy, organisational and individual levels for maximising the contribution of women in science and media for the achievement of the SDGs and the 2030 Development Agenda. Further, it will present the impact of media in achieving parity in science. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are relevant issues in Guyana; however, the Head of State has affirmed that the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment are fundamental to the Administration’s plans for the country’s future.
