As the international community advances the 2030 Agenda, Cyprus “reaffirms its unwavering commitment to achieving gender parity in science, technology and innovation as a fundamental cornerstone of socio-economic development,” Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations, Ambassador Maria Michael has emphasised.
She made the statement in her address to the 11th Assembly of the Royal Academy of Science International Trust, that took place on 11 February, at the UN Headquarters, in New York.
Michael said that that Cyprus is “honored to join” fellow member states at this “landmark 11th Assembly,” and, while highlighting the human rights dimension, she underlined that “the promotion of women and girls in education and science is an essential element for the protection of human rights.”
This commitment is embedded in Cyprus’s “national strategy for gender equality for the period 2024-2026,” which adopts “a holistic approach to mainstreaming gender equality across all state policies,” she said. The objective, she stressed, is “to move beyond rhetoric and formulate actions that deliver a fair and measurable impact on both women and men.”
Describing gender equality as “not a peripheral concern but a structural prerequisite for sustainable development,” Michael noted that the strategy aims to ensure that “public policy, education systems and innovation frameworks are inclusive, equitable and future-oriented.” Recognising finance as “a critical enabler of inclusion,” Cyprus has introduced “dedicated scholarship programs for women over the age of 30 to support re-skilling and entry into the innovation and technology sectors,” she added.
By fostering inclusive lifelong learning, Cyprus is “investing in a workforce capable of contributing to ethical and socially responsive scientific solutions,” guided by the belief that “inclusive science delivers better outcomes for society as a whole,” Michael said.
Echoing the UN Secretary-General’s view that “more women and girls in science equals better science,” Cyprus reaffirms, Michael stressed, its readiness “to support the implementation of this Assembly's outcome declaration” and its determination “to build a future in which every girl can dream boldly and contribute fully as a scientist, innovator and leader.”.
Also read: Percentage of women scientists and engineers in Cyprus at 42.3%, Eurostat reports
(Source: CNA)
