Meg's update: WGG Meeting: Feb. 3rd, 2011

Ms. Soon-Young Yoon, UN. representative from IAW gave a presentation on the highlights of the Expert Group Meeting on Education, Science and Technology, Paris, 2010, in preparation for CSW55 at the UN. It has been recognized that women and girls have long been underrepresented in S&T education and employment; although initiatives have been put in place by many countries, yet what remains is the lack of employment opportunities for women and girls on the higher professional levels of science and technology. Recommendations made were: a. carry out gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation of all programmes; b. mainstream a gender perspective in S&T educational institutions and particularly in the workplace; c. adopt gender equality policies in employment; d. encourage and accelerate sex-disaggregated data to allow for clear tracking of trends and monitoring/evaluation of actions. Following the keynote speaker, task force chairpersons reported on the side-events that will be part of CSW55, promoting once again a stronger focus on the Girl-Child, and her needs throughout her entire life cycle.