Financing for Gender Equality for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology

New York, March 2008

On the eve of the 52^nd session of the United Nations Commission on Status of Women, a luncheon discussion on Financing for Gender Equality for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology delivered a message on the important role of science, engineering and technology in empowering women and poverty eradication.  The event was supported by the National Commission of Women, Government of India; co-sponsored by Women’s Humanitarian Network, UN Studies Program, Columbia University; and Indian Young Professionals Network.  The event took place at the Ambassador Grill, Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York on March 5^th from 1:15pm to 2:45pm.

The speakers at the luncheon were  Minister for Gender, Social Welfare, and Religious Affairs, South Sudan – H.E. Mrs. Mary Kiden; The African Union Commission, Director for Women and Gender Development, H.E. Mrs. Litha Musiyimi-Ogana; Swati Save, Indian Young Professionals Network and United Nations Director of the Division for Advancement of Women, H.E. Mrs. Carolyn Hannan.

Ms. Swati Save introduced the speakers and opened the conversation by identifying the important  role of science and innovation in achieving international development goals and humanizing the research and development mandate around the world on making life saving drugs more affordable, accessible and easily available.

Mrs. Litha Musiyimi-Ogana, the African Union Commission spoke on women’s ongoing contribution to the economy in Africa and gave the example of Kenya where human rights need to be considered as part of a continuum of economic development.  She spoke of the process leading to the establishment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and of the Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD), which has just recently nominated the first woman scientist while highlighting the role of African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST).

Mrs. Carolyn Hannan, United Nations Division of the Advancement of Women, indicated that this topic was previously addressed by the Commission in the last report under the section on education. It recommended looking at the role of gender and individual areas which would benefit from increased gender integration. Ms. Hannan reinstated the need for women’s bigger role in research and access to decision making positions. She cited the International Labor Organization” (ILO) report according to which discrimination in the professional world could amount to a human rights issue. Overall, women underutilize resources because of limited access. At the same time they are themselves an underutilized resource to the detriment as society as a whole who could have otherwise greatly benefited from women’s contribution. We need to estimate the economic cost of not including women and girls. Thus budgets should include gender analysis and women’s contributions need to be taken into account, Mrs. Hannan stressed.

 H.E. Mrs. Mary Kiden, Minister for Gender, Social Welfare, and Religious Affairs, South Sudan; spoke about South Sudan which underwent 22 years of conflict. She reiterated how the Southern Sudanese in exile have promoted the study of science by their children. Yet, in spite of an increase of both Sudanese qualified men scientists and Sudanese qualified women scientists, the majority of the professional posts are being filled by men with hardly any of the jobs to women. Mrs. Mary Kiden expressed that inspite of war in the country great political progress has been made. Thanks, in part, to affirmative action 25% of the parliamentary members are women. There are 43 women in the parliamentary assembly.

The discussion concluded with an acceptance of important role of women to achieve international goals by harnessing the potential of science, engineering and technology.

Indian Young Professionals Network