Remarks by the President of the
General Assembly,
H.E Philemon Yang,
on the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Tuesday, 11 February 2025
[As delivered]
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank the Permanent Mission of Malta and the Royal Academy of Science International Trust for convening this important event, and for extending their kind invitation.
A decade has passed since the General Assembly designated 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
This milestone invites both reflection and resolve—not only to acknowledge progress but to dismantle the barriers that continue to limit women and girls in science.
This conversation is especially timely as we implement the Pact for the Future, whose Action 31 underscores science as a driver of gender equality.
Also significant is that this year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which identified education and training for women as a global priority.
The time to act is now.
Excellencies,
Despite efforts to increase female participation in science, progress remains far too slow, lagging behind shifts in technology and the labour market’s needs.
As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape the economy, women and girls must have the skills to seize these opportunities.
Yet the statistics remain stark.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, women still make up only 35 percent of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – or STEM – students, a figure unchanged in a decade.
On average, just 15 percent of young female graduates choose STEM subjects, compared to 35 percent of their male peers.
This imbalance extends to the workforce, where women hold fewer than 25 percent of jobs in science, engineering, and information and communications technology.
And in 2022, only 17 percent of global patent applications were filed by women.
The cost of inaction is immense.
The World Economic Forum estimates that doubling the number of women in the technology workforce by 2027 could add 600 billion Euros to the global Gross Domestic Product.
Beyond economics, bridging the gender gap ensures that the industries shaping our future benefit from the full spectrum of human expertise.
Yet entrenched societal attitudes—reinforced by low expectations from parents and teachers—continue to limit opportunities for generations of women and girls.
We know the solutions.
Targeted policies, sustained investment in STEM education, gender-sensitive teacher training, mentorship, and partnerships with the private sector to attract and retain talent, are proven to counteract the biases that deter women and girls from science.
I take this opportunity to reiterate that gender equality is a cross-cutting priority of my presidency.
I remain committed to supporting Member States in advancing women’s economic empowerment and fulfilling the Pact for the Future’s commitments toward gender equality – including towards increasing the number of women and girls in science.
Achieving these demands requires sustained collaboration—across governments, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and citizens alike.
On this tenth anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, as we approach the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, let us not just mark these milestones—let us honour them with action.
I thank you
********
Media Contacts
Sharon Birch, Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly, Tel: +1 212 963 0564, M: +1 646 342 5873, Email: birchs@un.org
Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser/ Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, M: +1 917 3614990, Email: mariam.shaikh@un.org
