UAE embassy, UN in China call for bigger part of women in STEM

The UN in China and the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Beijing jointly hosted a Dialogue on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) through Promoting Women's Participation in STEM in Beijing on Tuesday.

Together with participation from government, research institutes, international organizations, diplomatic community, and the private sector, the dialogue aims to promote women's participation and success in these areas.

UAE ambassador to China Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri and Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, attended the meeting and made opening remarks. It also featured two panel discussions with insights shared on the progress of empowering women in STEM in the UAE, shared by Saeeda Al Marzooqi, associate professor at the department of pathology from the UAE University, Hajer Ali Rashed Alyammahi, PhD Student at Khalifa University, and Noora Alsaeed, PhD Candidate at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Women's equality and empowerment is one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world, as women and girls represent half of the world's population, hence half of its potential. In the face of the challenges presented by COVID-19, which exacerbates the existing inequalities, the UAE is committed to creating a progressive, moderate society where women already hold leadership roles in all sectors and industries.

"Of the UAE government ministers, 29 percent are women, as are 50 percent of our Federal National Council. According to the IMF, the UAE ranked first in female parliamentary representation in 2020," said Al Dhaheri, the UAE ambassador to China. "Not only have Emirati women led in government or business, but in the sciences as well. Over 90 percent of the Emirates Mars Mission scientific team is composed of women."

Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, said that greater efforts are needed from the international community. "Immediate actions are required from us to ensure that women and girls are included, as active leaders in the development of all social sectors. This is especially important in the fields of STEM development," he said.

Concurrent to the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the United Nations, the event aimed to promote awareness across a diverse audience base. Exchanges and insights sparked during the dialogue were shared by participants from UN Women, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, All China Women's Federation, Alibaba Foundation, China Women's University and more.