The Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) celebrates the 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly on 11 February 2022 at UN Headquarters in New York, in a virtual format.
Following the adoption of UNGA Resolution A/RES/70/212 on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, RASIT continues to work with UN Member States, Inter-Governmental Organizations and the United Nations and its entities to achieve equality in science, technology, and innovation for socio-economic sustainable development in line with the UN Agenda 2030 and its SDGs.
The 7th Assembly is co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Cyprus, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Tajikistan to the United Nations, and the United Nations Department of Social and Economic Affairs (UN-DESA).
The 7th Assembly is also co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Bhutan, Ecuador, Finland, Hungary, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, San Marino, and Uzbekistan to the United Nations, as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), UN-Water, and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In fulfillment of its commitment to the UN International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, RASIT launched a new global program called “Cansu Global”, looking at sustainable development through a water lens. Cansu Global provides bespoke solutions for complex water challenges in order to further economic prosperity, social justice and environmental integrity.
UN Member States are also taking action in this context. Portugal will organize a High-Level Symposium on Water during the 2nd UN Ocean Conference, which it is cohosting with Kenya, in Lisbon, from 27 June to 1 July 2022, as a means of promoting an integrated vision of the water cycle. Similarly, Tajikistan is holding the Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2022, in June 2022, in Dushanbe.
Recognizing the role of women and girls in science, not only as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change, including in view of accelerating progress towards the achievement of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), the 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly will focus on the following topic: “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us".
The 7th Assembly will bring together women in science and experts from around the world, high-level government officials, representatives of international organizations and the private sector to discuss the water nexus in achieving the three pillars of sustainable development, namely economic prosperity, social justice, and environmental integrity.
More specifically, it will:
- Highlight the importance of the human rights-based approach for achieving sustainable socio-economic development
- Zoom in on women in science for water and discussing building capacity for sustainability
- Recognize the interplay and interdependency between science, technology, and green economic growth
- Promote investment in science- and green technology- based water solutions for innovative economies sectors for sustainable development
- Identify conditions and propose tools to put science, technology, and innovation at the heart of water diplomacy
- Address the interlinkage between climate change and other drivers with the increased risks of water-related challenges and development programs and,
- Integrate social aspects and cultural dimensions into water strategies and action plans, including management and sustainable solutions.
The Assembly will showcase best practices, strategies, applied solutions, and experiences in addressing the SDG6 challenges and opportunities through the Cansu Global Media Room. It will also feature, for the first time, a music performance by the Women in Science and a unique Ebru Water Art exhibition to celebrate the 7th Anniversary of the #February11 Global Movement.
Structure of Panels:
Each Panel will be divided into two main interactive conversations with distinguished representatives from governments, inter-governmental organization, the private sector, and academia.
The interactive conversations will take place in virtual format.
The voice of Youth, Girls in Science 4 SDGs International Platform, and our fellow Blind and Deaf scientists and experts will be present in every conversation.
