Leading the Way: Empowering Women and Girls in Science and Innovation

Ms. WANG Hongyang, President of China Woman’s Association for Science and Technology,

UN Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning.

I am pleased to attend this Policy Dialogue on Women in Science. I give special thanks to UNDP and UN Women for hosting this critical dialogue on empowering women and girls in science.

I also take this opportunity to express my regards to the China Woman’s Association for Science and Technology for its strong support of this event, in co-promoting women’s full and equal access to and participation in science.

Women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities, and their participation should be strengthened. However, the latest available Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) data shows that the world is not on track to achieving gender equality by 2030.

Amid the intersecting crises of COVID-19, the climate emergency, and rising economic and political insecurity, progress on gender equality has not only failed to move forward but has begun to reverse.

According to the Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2022 report, young women outnumber young men in tertiary education globally. Yet women are a minority of students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, at only 35 per cent, and in information and communication technology (ICT) studies, at just 3 per cent.

Gender bias is not just a human rights issue. It is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life to its fullest.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres made it clear in this year’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science, when he said, “The inequality is depriving our world of enormous untapped talent and innovation. We need women’s perspectives to make sure science and technology work for everyone.”

Empowering women and girls is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

With less than eight years left to achieve the SDGs in the Decade of Action, it is time for us to end gender discrimination, and ensure that all women and girls fulfil their potential and have an integral part to play in building a better world for all.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are among the core guiding principles of the development of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

For the UN in China, we have a strong gender mandate to advance SDG 5 through the UN Theme Group on Gender, co-chaired by UN Women and UNFPA, to empower women and girls of all ages to enjoy equal rights through the implementation of the UNSDCF.

In addition, the UN in China is also promoting relevant gender equality initiatives on a global scale. The joint campaign, #HERstory, by UN Women China and UNDP China, shared inspiring stories of global STEM women leaders on social media. A workshop was launched to combat stereotypes and encourage women and girls across China to learn and excel in science and technology.

On behalf of the UN Country Team in China, I have stated that “Greater action and investment are needed in the field of education and skills development for women”, as mentioned in the Joint Dialogue with the Embassy of UAE on Women and Girls’ Economic Empowerment through Education and Skills Development in June 2022.

Dear Friends,

Women hold up half the sky. When they are involved at all levels in the implementation of the SDGs, and are in the driver’s seat in leading the tech sector, they can help create user-friendly technologies that are responsive to the needs of consumers.

Each of us can play a role in closing the gender divide, defying stereotypes and encouraging women and girls to advance in science and technology by pursuing careers in the technology and innovation sector. In doing this, we not only empower women and girls, but we also move closer to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and create a better world for all — including men and boys, as well as women and girls.

Let us ensure that every girl, everywhere, has the opportunity to unleash her full potential and realize her dreams, grow into her power, and contribute to a sustainable future for all.

We must promote access to learning opportunities for women and girls, particularly in rural areas. And we must do more to encourage more women and girls to enter and succeed in science and technology fields, both in schools and workplaces, so that girls who dream of being scientists, engineers and mathematicians can enjoy fulfilling studies and careers in these fields.

I wish you successful deliberations. Thank you.