CSW66: Bonetti, bridge the gap between men and women in STEM disciplines

NEW YORK, MARCH 14 – “A crucial step forward in our global agenda for ecological transition is represented by education: we need to bridge the gap between men and women in STEM disciplines. We must encourage girls and young women to become agents of change and to participate, in the medium and long term, in the creation of green policies for real environmental sustainability and positive development”, said Minister for the Family and Equal Opportunities, Elena Bonetti, during a ministerial round table organized by Italy on women and climate at the margin of the 66th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the Glass Palace. This year’s aim is to compare ideas on the participation of women in solutions for climate change and disaster risk reduction.

“We are all now aware that the complexity of the crisis we are experiencing requires new tools and a deeper and shared commitment by the international community towards the empowerment of women – in particular, if we focus on the new challenges that lie ahead, such as the fight against climate change and new policies for the environment and disaster risk mitigation,” said Bonetti: “To address all of these issues, we need integrated and comprehensive global and local actions. And we need the fundamental contribution of women together with men. To implement effective policies towards inclusive, resilient and sustainable development for all, we must free up the talents, energy and pro-active participation of women in all areas of our society”.

According to the Italian Minister, achieving gender equality is a necessary condition for achieving sustainable development and implementing a global ecological transition strategy: “Empowering women means fighting discrimination and, at the same time, removing all the obstacles that prevent women from expressing their full potential and contributing to our common challenge”.

To read Minister Bonetti’s full speech, click here. (@Onuitalia)