The International Telecommunications Union has called for more focus on gender equality in science leadership as the foundation for a new era of sustainability.
This comes as the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated every February 11 of every year.
According to the ITU, this year’s theme, “Leadership,” underscores the need for strong female role models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers and aligns with tech-related gender policies at the Union.
The theme also encouraged empowerment and leadership development for a more equitable future in STEM.
The UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science is a global celebration of the essential role played by women and girls in advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and overcoming barriers in the ever-evolving world of science.
Established by the United Nations in 2015, this day also aims to recognise the critical role women and girls play in science and to promote their full and equal participation in STEM and associated sectors globally.
The Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, applauded the new science and technology exhibition (STEM EXPO) featured at the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly this year.
“Combining the ingenuity of women and girls in science with the power of digital innovation is key to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals,” she said.
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The ITU, which is the United Nations tech agency, noted that it also stepped up its long-running commitment to change the pattern in a historically male-dominated field.
In a related development, the Women in Standardization Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, Seizo Onoe said the launch of the “NOW4WTSA24” campaign is aimed at seeing women’s participation at the conference exceed 35 percent.
The conference also aims for more gender-balanced delegations, more women as heads of delegations, and more women nominated for leadership positions in ITU’s standardization expert groups.
The wider mission of the campaign is to make the world of standards development for information and communication technologies (ICTs) more attractive to women.
In December 2023, the Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava signed an agreement with the Communication, Space and Technology Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the NoW in ITU-D through training and mentorship opportunities.
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