February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
On February 11th, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated, an initiative created in 2015 by the General Assembly of United Nations, as a way of drawing attention to the gender inequality that penalizes women's opportunities and careers in the fields of science, technology and innovation.
“We can all do our part to unleash our world's enormous untapped talent – starting by filling classrooms, laboratories and boardrooms with women scientists” – UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Innovate, Demonstrate, Elevate, Advance, Sustain
A significant gender gap has persisted over the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects around the world. Although women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
Gender equality, in addition to being a fundamental human right, is essential to achieving peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development, which is why it has always been a central issue for the United Nations.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls make a crucial contribution not only to global economic development, but also to progress on all goals and targets for Sustainable Development.
On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its fifty-fifth session, with agreed conclusions on the access to and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology and, for the promotion of equality women's access to full employment and decent work.
On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognized 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.
Women "in numbers"
Women generally receive smaller research grants than their male counterparts, and although they represent 33,3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national scientific academies are women.
In cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, just one in five professionals (22%) is a woman.
Despite skills shortages in most technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still make up just 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of computer science and computer science graduates.
Female researchers tend to have shorter and less well-paid careers. Their work is under-represented in high-profile magazines and they are often passed over for promotions.
Women and girls make up 60% of the world's population and therefore more than half of its potential.
Women scientists at the forefront of tomorrow
In recent decades, the world's understanding of climate change has improved exponentially thanks to science, technology and the dedication of some of the world's leading climate scientists, the vast majority of those scientists championing the science behind climate change are women.
Women have achieved parity (in numbers) in the life sciences in many countries and even dominate the field in some cases. However, women remain a minority in digital information technology, computing, physics, mathematics and engineering. These are the fields that are driving the digital revolution and therefore many of the jobs of tomorrow.
Conclusion
World and international days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, mobilize political will and resources to address global issues, and celebrate and reinforce human achievements. The existence of world and international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.
What do you think of this day? And what do you think about these days related to women? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.
See also:
March 19 is Father's Day and World Craftsman's Day
February 14th is not just Valentine's Day
February 14th. Valentine's Day. Why?
February 13th is World Radio Day
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