International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Formally recognised by the United Nations in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science provides a platform to recognise the critical role that women and girls play addressing the major challenges of our time, through their active contributions in the fields of science and technology. Celebrated on 11 February, the day is an important opportunity to promote full and equal access to and to strengthen participation in science for women, girls and other underrepresented groups.

For ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, the 5th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly provides ICC and its partners with an important opportunity to celebrate the vital role played by women and girls in furthering scientific and economic development. He said:

“In our centenary year, ICC issued a Declaration on the Next Century of Global Business outlining our priorities in the next phase of our development. It is clear that these goals will not be achieved without equal representation for women and girls in developing solutions to the pressing issues facing our world.”

This year’s Assembly, held in the iconic General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters, will be held in close collaboration with the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Uruguay, and supported by the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of, Costa Rica, Cyprus Montenegro, San Marino, Slovenia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Philippines and Zambia, as well as the African Union, 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).

Turkish Airlines, Kaneka Americas, Emerging Ag, and 3M have also supported the development of this year’s assembly.

Highlights of the 5th Assembly

The theme for this year’s Assembly is ‘Investment in Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation in the Digitalization Era for Inclusive Green Growth’. ICC, together with RASIT, is bringing together hundreds of stakeholders, including high-level government officials, representatives of international organisations, foundations, the private sector, civil society and women in science experts from around the world. Speakers include the President of the 74th United Nations General Assembly, H.E. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande; Chair of Turkish Airlines, İlker Aycı; Chair of the Global LPG Partnership, Kimball Chen; and Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier. ICC’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Andrew Wilson, will also moderate a high-level panel session on Reshaping Economic Development through Empowerment of Women in Science.

The three thematic focus areas of the 5th 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; and
• advancing national-level women in science capacity development for a holistic inclusive and green action. 

To this end, the four key objectives that have been identified for the Assembly are:

• 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 Labour Markets Interdependence and Constraints for Women in Science; and
• Addressing Nexus of Women in Science and Fourth Digital Revolution

Panels and discussions at the Assembly will focus on the interlinkages between gender inequality (specifically in science), the digital and tech revolution, and the agricultural sector for Sustainable Development and seek to deliver evidence-based green and inclusive solutions that meet the needs of countries implementing the 2030 Agenda. In addition to the scheduled programming, ICC and RASIT welcome experts and leaders to share their best practices, strategies and applied solutions addressing challenges and providing opportunities in these areas throughout both days.

Register for the Assembly commemorating the Fifth International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

For those that cannot attend in person, the Assembly will be live-streamed with closed captioning service on UNTV.