[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-76px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
10 February 2023<\/b><\/p>\n
Your Highness,<\/p>\n
Madam High Representative,<\/p>\n
Distinguished delegates,<\/p>\n
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I wish I knew that there would be a notion about jeans, I would have worn them. I would be very happy now to stand up and show you that I\u2019m with you.<\/p>\n
Actually, I cannot emphasize enough how happy I am to see two key priorities of my Presidency coming together \u2013 the systemic inclusion of science into the decision-shaping processes of the General Assembly and providing gender justice. If we do these two together, I think we\u2019re going to change the world. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Thank you very much indeed, Your Highness, for bringing together these two good courses.<\/p>\n
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These are gamechangers. These are about to change the world.<\/p>\n
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I\u2019m sure the young female scientists here today know better than most what I am going to quote:<\/p>\n
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\u201cScience is not a boy\u2019s game. It is not a girl\u2019s game. It is everybody\u2019s game.\u201d<\/p>\n
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These are the words of Nichelle Nichols, former NASA Ambassador and Star Trek actress who died last year, and who had inspired millions as one of the first African-Americans to have a lead role in a hit TV series.<\/p>\n
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She would be, as I am, delighted and proud to celebrate women and girls in science today.<\/p>\n
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I thank the Permanent Missions co-sponsoring today\u2019s event \u2013 and the Royal Academy of Science International Trust for inspiring more women and girls to undertake scientific pursuits.<\/p>\n
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Young scientists here today \u2013 you are the future Nobel laureates and innovators who will be discovering the solutions that can save our people and planet.<\/p>\n
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You are the living proof of why it is so important that more women and girls are able to exercise their right to equal access to education.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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As we all know, stereotypes and gender bias often discourage women and girls from pursuing STEM careers: the ones in science, technology, engineering and math.<\/p>\n
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As early as preschool, teachers and parents in many cases underestimate the girls\u2019 ability to excel in these fields.<\/p>\n
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Later in their careers, women and girls often lack female role models in STEM fields, making it difficult to pursue the opportunities available to them.<\/p>\n
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As a result, women are still in a minority in digital information technology, computing, physics, mathematics and engineering.<\/p>\n
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They are awarded less research funding than men, earn 33 percent less than their male counterparts \u2013 and are less likely to be promoted.<\/p>\n
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But what if women\u2019s access to STEM education had been the rule, rather than the exception, over the years?<\/p>\n
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Would we today have clean energy, water and sanitation for all? Would our industries be less polluting, our cities more inclusive?<\/p>\n
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In fact, the under-representation of women and girls in STEM puts a brake on all our efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>\n
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We need the expertise of women scientists to address challenges \u2013 from climate change and food insecurity to disease outbreak and water scarcity, just to name a few.<\/p>\n
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Let me put it in a very simple way:<\/p>\n
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Given the challenges that we are facing, we cannot afford the luxury of not tapping into a larger pool of talent.<\/p>\n
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Commitment and bold action are needed to promote laws, policies, budgets and institutions that advance gender equality in science.<\/p>\n
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I urge Member States to unleash the potential\u00a0<\/i>of women and girls \u2013 and encourage girls to pursue STEM education and careers.<\/p>\n
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Scholarships and mentoring programs are an excellent way to start.<\/p>\n
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Member States can launch media campaigns that highlight the contributions of women in STEM.<\/p>\n
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But, let\u2019s be frank, expanding access to resources is key.<\/p>\n
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I encourage Member States to encourage funding for STEM education, training and technology, as well as research and development programs.<\/p>\n
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And here, let me quote the words of my compatriot, the Hungarian scientist Katalin Karik\u00f3.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She is celebrated as the researcher who developed RNA technology and one of the vaccines that have helped us to \u2013 narrowly \u2013 win the COVID race.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n She said:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cEvery night I worked thinking grant, grant, grant. And it came back always no, no, no.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Well, let us ensure that the answer will be yes, yes, yes.<\/p>\n \n As Marie Curie, the only person in history to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields, once said, \u201cNothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.\u201d<\/p>\n \n In the General Assembly, we take this to heart.<\/p>\n \n The science briefings held earlier this week were attended by Governments, civil society \u2013 and importantly, Youth Delegates from around the world.<\/p>\n \n I do believe that open debate ultimately leads to open labs and a rightful role in science for women and girls.<\/p>\n \n And I echo Dr. Curie\u2019s challenge to us all: \u201cNow is the time to understand more \u2013 so that we may fear less.\u201d<\/p>\n \n Thank you, Your Highness.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 10 February 2023 Your Highness, Madam High Representative, Distinguished delegates, I wish I knew that there would be a notion about jeans, I would have worn them. I would be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":361,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" 10 November 2022<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\r\n Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is in crisis. It is in many crises.<\/p>\r\n It has been 15 months since the Taliban consolidated control over the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Its economy is in ruins. The humanitarian situation is disastrous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Two-thirds of the population is hungry.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Girls and women are banned from learning, having a job or getting proper medical care.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The country is awash with heroin and opium.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Organized crime and terrorist organizations are thriving once again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Afghanistan is facing complex and interlinked challenges that the Taliban have shown they cannot \u2013 or would not \u2013 solve.<\/u><\/span><\/p>\r\n It is time to support the Afghan people with concrete solutions that place their needs front and center.<\/p>\r\n It is true that some problems will require some time to resolve.<\/p>\r\n But there are actions the Assembly can take to change the paradigm now.<\/p>\r\n I would like you to consider one solution through solidarity.<\/p>\r\n The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan \u2013 which requires $4.4 billion US dollars \u2013 is only half funded.<\/p>\r\n With winter weather just weeks away, I encourage Member States to provide urgent support to help reduce the $2.3 billion dollar shortfall.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s remind ourselves of the old saying from Afghanistan: \u201cA real friend is one who takes the hand of his friend in times of distress and helplessness.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n Afghanistan has a rich history of scientific achievement.<\/p>\r\n I encourage the country\u2019s reengagement with the international science community.<\/p>\r\n And\u00a0to allow women who used to be respected members of the country\u2019s science community to resume their research and their studies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u00a0<\/span>Afghanistan is now the only state in the world that would deny girls their full right to education.<\/p>\r\n The prospect of girls\u2019 education has been left to uncertainty amid seemingly random edicts from the Taliban.<\/p>\r\n This time last year, Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, recalled her dream of one day addressing the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ as the President of Afghanistan.<\/p>\r\n She said:\u00a0\u201cWith me, millions of girls and women in Afghanistan had this dream that now they think will never come true.\u201d<\/p>\r\n Dreams of becoming President have been replaced by the reality of child marriage. Arrests if women and girls leave their home without a male chaperone.<\/p>\r\n I reiterate my call for the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Afghans, especially women and girls.<\/p>\r\n Similarly, I urge the Taliban to ensure the safety of all Afghans, regardless of gender, ethnic background, religious belief or political affiliation.<\/p>\r\n To protect journalists and civil society members.<\/p>\r\n To allow unhindered humanitarian aid, and to cooperate with humanitarian workers.<\/p>\r\n We expect the Taliban to make good on the commitments they made to the international community.\u00a0To show honesty through\u00a0concrete action.<\/p>\r\n Excellencies,<\/p>\r\n The dramatic changes of 2021 have taken a massive toll on Afghanistan\u2019s economy and profoundly widened many security risks.<\/p>\r\n