Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 10 February 2021

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

VIDEO MESSAGE FOR THE

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE

11 February 2021

Advancing gender equality in science and technology is essential for building a better future.

We have seen this yet again in the fight against COVID-19.

Women, who represent 70 per cent of all healthcare workers, have been among those most affected by the pandemic and among those leading the response to it.

Gender inequalities have increased dramatically in the past year, as women bear the brunt of school closures and working from home.

Many women scientists are facing closed labs and increased care responsibilities, leaving less time for critical research.

For women in scientific fields, these challenges have exacerbated an already difficult situation.

According to UNESCO, women account for only one third of the world’s researchers, and occupy fewer senior positions than men at top universities.

This disparity has led to a lower publication rate, less visibility, less recognition and, critically, less funding.

Meanwhile, artificial Intelligence and machine learning replicate existing biases.

Women and girls belong in science.

Yet stereotypes have steered women and girls away from science-related fields.

It is time to recognize that greater diversity fosters greater innovation.

Without more women in STEM, the world will continue to be designed by and for men, and the potential of girls and women will remain untapped.

We must ensure that girls have access to the education they deserve and that they can see a future for themselves in engineering, computer programming, cloud technology, robotics and health sciences.

This is critical for our work to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Increasing women’s participation in STEM can close the gender pay gap and boost women’s  earnings by $299 billion over the next ten years.

STEM skills are also crucial in closing the global Internet user gap.

Together, let’s end gender discrimination, and ensure that all women and girls fulfill their potential and are an integral part in building a better world for all.

Download link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/MSG+SG+Women+and+Girls+Science+5+Feb+21/MSG+SG+WOMEN+AND+GIRLS+SCIENCE+5+FEB+21+CLEAN.mp4

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UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

 Canadian High Commissioner’s visit to GLOF-II office in Gilgit

The Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Wendy Glimour and the First Secretary Emilie Milroy visited GLOF II Gilgit office on 9th Feb 2021.

The Provincial Coordinator GLOF-II briefed her about the project and its objectives and background; the Scaling-up of GLOF risk reduction in Northern Pakistan (GLOF-II) project is a continuation of the four-year ‘Reducing Risks and Vulnerabilities from GLOF in Northern Pakistan’ (GLOF-I) project. GLOF-II aims to help vulnerable communities to prepare for and mitigate GLOF risks through early warning systems, enhanced infrastructure and community-based disaster risk management.

Ms. Gilmore appreciated the efforts of project team, and the implementing units for incorporation and documentation of indigenous knowledge like glacial grafting and community engagement. The First Secretary inquired youth engagement in the interventions proposed under the project. GLOF-II Provincial Coordinator emphasised on the opportunities given to the youth under the internship program, where the local youth from different districts are involved to enhance knowledge of the professional world.  GLOF-II is also supporting research students working on climate change resilience.

The early warning systems were of immense interest to the ambassador and she wanted to learn how communities receive the alerts to safeguard against such catastrophise. She was fascinated to learn about the use of drone technologies to monitor GLOF events.

Possible avenues of collaboration between Canada and GLOF II were also discussed. The team was apprised on the selection of only 24 valleys for the project and talked about the need for more financial resources and technological access to upscale the project in future, and to expand its horizons in upcoming years to all the valleys vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Ms Gilmore inquired about the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as the funding body for the project and appreciated the timely provision of resources from GCF and project team’s active collaboration with the donor for various project activities.

The High Commissioner and First Secretary were given project souvenirs as a token of thanks and  an invitation was extended for visiting the project management unit in Islamabad to know further about GLOF-II and GCF partnership.

For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at ayesha.babar@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5650