The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) celebrates the 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly on 11 and 12 February 2020 at the United Nations Headquarters.
From the outcome declaration at the High-Level World Women's Health and Development Forum in 2015, organised by RASIT and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science proclaimed with the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution (70/212), the journey of RASIT continues to help achieve Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development.
Today we count on our partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and close collaboration with the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Portugal, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Uruguay, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Montenegro, San Marino, Slovenia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Philippines, and Zambia, as well as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Labour Organization (ILO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The 4th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly featured an outcome document entitled “Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth” endorsed by 89 Member States, clearly emphasised in Paragraph 24 of the Outcome Document:
“Urge all governments to invest in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth in National, Regional and International Development Agendas, including in new research infrastructures and centres of excellence to foster research and development encourage the emergence and development of private sector R&D initiatives in order to widen the scope of innovation which is essential to boost industrialisation, women in science employment and wealth creation increase efforts in leveraging financing from private sector and other non-traditional sources to complement public funding in order to support investment in women and girls in science and innovation.”
With great momentum and interest in how women in all fields of sciences can accelerate socio-economic sustainable development, the 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly theme is on driving Investment in Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation in the Digitalization Era for Inclusive Green Growth with special focus on Agriculture, Technology and Digital Economy.
The 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly brings together stakeholders from high-level government officials, representatives of international organisations, foundations, private sector, civil society as well as women in science experts from around the world. Discussion will focus on the interlinkages between gender inequality - specifically in science- digital and tech revolution, and agricultural sector for Sustainable Development. Recognising the interplay and interdependency between science, technology and the digital economy for inclusive and green economic growth, panels will deliver evidence- based green and inclusive solutions that meet the needs of countries in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.
Furthermore, the Assembly promotes a holistic approach to address the challenge of support and strengthen the engagement of women and girls in agriculture and technology fields, while incorporating cultural insights, and investing in women and girls as fundamental means for succeeding in the era of the fourth industrial revolution.
The three thematic focus areas of the 2020 Assembly highlight:
- The role of women in science for improving green and inclusive economy regulatory and policy framework.
- Promoting innovative green investment in women and girls in science through public-private partnerships.
- Advancing national-level women in science capacity development for a holistic inclusive and green action.
To this end, RASIT identified 4 priority objectives for the 5th Assembly as:
- Addressing the Nexus between Digital Economy Agri-Tech and Gender Inequality.
- Ensuring participation of Women and Girls in Science for SDG2 and SDG6 with a Cultural Regional focus.
- Tackle Regional/ Local Labor Markets Interdependence and Constraints for Women in Science.
- Addressing Nexus of Women in Science and Fourth Digital Revolution.
In addition, the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and the International Chamber of Commerce welcome experts and leaders to share their best practices, strategies and applied solutions which address the challenges and provide opportunities under the following domains:
- Review of national, regional and international policies and best practices, plans and programmes of action pertaining to Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation, especially related to sustainable agriculture.
- Understanding Investment in women and girls in science for inclusive green growth through capacity building, access to funds, cooperation and data governance.
- Promoting integrated policies for investment in inclusive science and technology for achieving implementation of the 2030 Development Agenda, particularly sustainable agriculture.
- Framework to shape the future of digital economy for society through developing an integrated Digital Economy, Culture and Sociology, to implement policies.
- Specific topics and applications could include inter alia (i) evaluation of the economic and social impact of Women in Science in Sustainable Development Programmes, (ii) measurement of SDGs indicators related to investment, equality and parity in science, technology and innovation in the Digital Economic era.
