(MENAFN) The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has urged the public and private sectors to significantly increase investment to bridge the gender digital divide and promote gender equality in emerging scientific and technological fields. In a document approved by consensus after all-night negotiations at the end of a two-week meeting, the commission expressed grave concern over the interrelation between offline and online violence, harassment, and discrimination against women and girls. It called for a range of efforts to combat these issues and urged zero tolerance for gender-based violence and harassment online.
The Commission on the Status of Women emphasized the need to remove barriers to equal access to digital technology for all women and girls. It called for new policies and programs to achieve gender parity in emerging scientific and technological fields. The document was approved following an intense two-week meeting, which saw UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlight the importance of the commission’s focus, as women and girls are being left behind as technology races ahead.
Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, praised the document as “game-changing” for promoting a blueprint for a more equal and connected world for women and girls. However, she noted that the challenge is now to turn the blueprint into a reality for all women and girls. The commission’s document emphasized the need for a significant increase in investment by the public and private sectors to bridge the gender digital divide and promote gender equality in emerging scientific and technological fields.
MENAFN19032023000045012476ID1105810087
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.