MANILA, Philippines — Women represent 70 percent of all healthcare workers leading in the response to COVID-19, the United Nations said.
They have also been among those most affected by the pandemic, the UN noted.
“Yet, as women bear the brunt of school closures and working from home, gender inequalities have increased dramatically over the past year,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said over the weekend.
He said advancing gender equality in science and technology is essential for building a better future. “We have seen this yet again in the fight against COVID-19.”
Citing a report from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Guterres said women account for only one third of the world’s researchers and hold fewer senior positions than men at top universities, which has led to “a lower publication rate, less visibility, less recognition and, critically, less funding.”
“Women and girls belong in science,” he stressed, adding the need to recognize that “greater diversity fosters greater innovation.”
“Without more women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), the world will continue to be designed by and for men, and the potential of girls and women will remain untapped,” he added.
Their presence is also critical in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to close gender pay gaps and boost women’s earnings by $299 billion over the next 10 years, according to Guterres.
He urged everyone to end gender discrimination and ensure that all women and girls fulfill their potential as they are an integral part in building a better world.