Mme France Marquet, SAF representative to UNESCO attended forum on International Day of Women and Girls in Science

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News UNESCO Headquarters, Paris - 9th February 2018


UNESCO-SAF-International-day-Sunil
Event
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment through and for Science

09 February 2018, from 09:30 to 12:30
Room IV, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France

This event, organized in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, brought  together representatives of scientific institutions, international organisations, NGOs and tech businesses to analyse the current situation and identify effective ways to empower women through and for science. The discussions will focus on the gender gap in computer science, and on promoting women in science in the context of the revised Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers. The video of the roundtable is available online in English and French.

Programme

09:30 - Welcome coffee

10:00- Welcome Remarks

  • Flavia Schlegel
    Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
  • Alexandra Palt
    Executive Vice President, L’Oréal Corporate Foundation

Master of ceremony: Indrajit Banerjee, Director, Knowledge Societies Division, UNESCO

Round table: “Closing the gender gap in computer sciences”
Moderator: Ulrika Ferenius, Deputy Permanent Delegate, Permanent Delegation of Sweden to the OECD and UNESCO

Video: Cracking the Code: Quality education, equally for all

Speakers:

  • Regina Agyare
    founder, Soronko Solutions, Ghana
  • Kathleen Noonan
    Director of Philanthropies & Education Communications Europe, Microsoft
  • Reine Essobmadje
    Co-founder, Coalition digitale
  • Clarisse Angelier
    Déléguée générale, Association nationale de la recherche et de la technologie (ANRT)
  • Pascal Griset
    Director, Institute for Communication Sciences, CNRS/ University of Paris Sorbonne
  • Hana Y. AlSyead
    Vice-President, Diversity and Chairwoman Steering Committee Olayan Women

Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers

  • Presentation:
    Nada Al-Nashif
    Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO
  • Discussion:
    Jean-Paul Lainé
    President, World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW)

Closing remarks

  • Saniye Gülser Corat
    Director, Gender Equality Division, UNESCO


Science and gender equality are both vital for sustainable development. Yet women and girls continued to be excluded from participating fully in science: less than 30% of researchers worldwide are women.

Tackling some of the greatest challenges of the Agenda for Sustainable Development -- from improving health to combatting climate change -- will rely on harnessing all talent. That means getting more women working in these fields. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent and creativity.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrates each year on 11 February, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls. This Day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened. The celebration is led by UNESCO and UN-Women, in collaboration with institutions and civil society partners that promote women and girls' access to and participation in science.

Download: Concept Note