{"id":257725,"date":"2022-02-11T15:44:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T20:44:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/76\/?p=257725"},"modified":"2022-02-11T15:44:39","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T20:44:39","slug":"7th-international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science-panel-discussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/pga\/76\/2022\/02\/11\/7th-international-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science-panel-discussion\/","title":{"rendered":"7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science – Panel Discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Excellencies,<\/p>\n

Dear Scientists,<\/p>\n

I am delighted to join you in this closing session.<\/p>\n

As a gender champion, the focus of these discussions is very close to my heart.<\/p>\n

The diverse representation of women scientists here today, coming from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Latin American and Caribbean Group, is an inspiration for girls and boys who aspire to a career in science.<\/p>\n

As a science enthusiast myself, I am continuously inspired by your achievements and contributions, which have made, and are making, profound impacts on our lives and on our world.<\/p>\n

The value you bring is needed now more than ever.<\/p>\n

The dual threats of the pandemic and climate change have given rise to new challenges around sustainable development, challenges that science is, thankfully, helping us tackle.<\/p>\n

I come from\u00a0 a Small Island Developing State. SIDS like the Maldives are often referred to as \u2018large ocean states\u2019 for the reason that our territories comprise of more ocean than land. But even with vast areas of water around us, scarcity of drinking water \u00a0is a reality that we are confronted with every day.<\/p>\n

Our accessibility to fresh water, in addition to rainwater, depends on science and technology.\u00a0 It depends on solutions built on the principles of equality, inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.<\/p>\n

Encouraging greater diversity is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do; it allows scientific organizations to build more creative teams, opening the door to new discoveries.\u00a0 Put simply, gender diversity leads to better science.<\/p>\n

The theme of this year\u2019s celebration of \u201cEquity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Water Unites Us\u201d could not be more apt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It represents an opportunity for us to delve into the challenges women and girls confront in the fields of science.<\/p>\n

To recognize the universal and deeply rooted nature of gender inequality. The unacceptable norms of social behaviors that have sidelined women and girls to reach their full potential.<\/p>\n

And it is an opportunity to recognize that water supports the achievement of sustainable development goals, and this inter-related nature requires a gender-inclusive approach.<\/p>\n

Recruiting more women in science will not be enough to close the minority representation of women in science.\u00a0 Carefully designed policies and dedicated leadership allow scientific organizations to harness the power of gender diversity for collective innovations and discoveries.<\/p>\n

Dear Scientists,<\/p>\n

I have said enough.\u00a0 We need to hear from you. To hear your insights and views on the challenges that confront you as women and girls in science.<\/p>\n

On this note, allow me to provide some guiding questions ahead of the discussions that will follow, in particular:<\/p>\n