International Women's Day 2023 event organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare

Introduction

It is my great pleasure to join you this morning to mark International Women’s Day. I am speaking to you on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, Ms. Lisa Singh, who sends her regrets as she is traveling overseas today.

First and foremost International Women’s Day is a celebration! Transforming our world for the better through their leadership, ideas, innovations, and activism.  This day is an opportunity to recognize the value and the achievements of women and girls everywhere.

The focus of the celebrations for 2023 is on the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education – under the theme of “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. However, the festivities around International Women’s Day also provide the necessary opportunity to highlight the far-reaching obstacles still faced by women and girls in their daily lives.

The theme for this year is more relevant than ever with the Internet central to maintaining economic and social ties. We are effectively living in an ‘era of e-everything’.  The rapid transition to digital is exposing us to the vast promise of new technologies but also to its peril.

Freedom of expression and access to information are fundamental to a range of human rights. Technology has the potential to encourage participation in public life and democratic processes through economic growth; access to education, information, and knowledge; and empowering those left behind to have their voices heard.

In Mauritius, we are in the fortunate position of having excellent access to the internet, including for women and girls. However, the internet and online is also a space through which harm may be perpetrated. A study conducted by UNWomen in November 2020 found that much of the violence women experience offline is replicated online. So are the risk factors. Because of this, it is critical we address the issues that inform and underpin violence against women, such as male entitlement to power, women’s rights around decision-making, and their bodies amongst others.

Secretary General’s Message for IWD

Within this context, please allow me to share with you the message of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the occasion of International Women’s Day. I quote:

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On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls across all walks of life, in all corners of the world.

But we also recognize the enormous obstacles they face — from structural injustices, marginalization, and violence, to cascading crises that affect them first and worst, to the denial of their personal autonomy and rights over their bodies and lives.

Gender-based discrimination harms everyone – women, girls, men, and boys.

International Women’s Day is a call to action.

Action to stand with women who are demanding their fundamental rights at great personal cost.

Action to strengthen protection against sexual exploitation and abuse.

And action to accelerate women’s full participation and leadership.

This year’s theme stresses the need for technology and innovation to advance gender equality.

Technology can expand pathways to education and opportunities for women and girls.

But it can also be used to amplify abuse and hatred.

Today, women make up under a third of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and maths.

And when women are under-represented in developing new technologies, discrimination may be baked in from the start.

That is why we must close the digital divide and increase the representation of women and girls in science and technology.

Women’s exclusion from the digital world has shaved an estimated $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade — a loss that could grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025 without action.

Investing in women uplifts all people, communities, and countries. 

Let us work together – across governments, the private sector and civil society –to build a more inclusive, just, and prosperous world for women, girls, men, and boys everywhere.

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WOMEN & GIRLS IN STEM

As emphasized by the Secretary-General, the full and equal participation and leadership of women and girls in the science and technology communities is more important than ever. Tackling some of the greatest challenges of the Agenda for Sustainable Development -- from improving health to combating climate change -- will rely on harnessing all talent. However, women account for just 22 per cent of professionals working in artificial intelligence and 28 per cent of engineering graduates.  

Now is the time to recognize women’s contributions in research and innovation, smash stereotypes and defeat discrimination against women and girls in science and technology. These glaring under-representations limit our ability to find inclusive, sustainable solutions to modern problems and build a better society for all. This means we need to get more women working in these fields. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, expertise, and creativity.

Conclusion

Let’s take up the Secretary General’s call to action to make sure that the gender gap in the field of science and technology is a thing of the past.  Let’s inspire our young girls and women of today to become the world’s leading innovators of tomorrow.

Thank you for your kind attention and I wish you a happy International Women’s Day!