Women and girls in science: Dismantling barriers, closing gender gaps

Women and girls in science: Dismantling barriers, closing gender gaps

Across the world, a significant gender gap persists at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines due to lack of research funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory workplace practices.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the gap is particularly pronounced in technology, where women represent just 26 per cent of the workforce in data and artificial intelligence, and 12 per cent in cloud computing.   “Excluding women […]

Cosmic girls: UN nurtures next generation of space professionals

Now 18, she’s involved in aerospace projects with other young women through the Shakthi SAT initiative and she’s keen to explore the intersection between computer engineering and science, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous robotics and embedded systems that control satellites, drones and rockets. “I’m learning things I once only dreamed of, and we’re going to […]

Women and girls of African descent: celebrating contributions, recognizing challenges

Women and girls of African descent: celebrating contributions, recognizing challenges

It recognizes their immense contributions to society but also acknowledges the challenges they face due to the double burden of racism and sexism. Although woman and girls of African descent embody strength, resilience, and untapped potential, they remain among the most marginalized groups globally due to the intersection of racial, gender, and socio-economic discrimination. For […]

$1 towards a girl’s education = $3 for the global economy: That’s how development works

$1 towards a girl’s education = $3 for the global economy: That’s how development works

Every dollar invested in girls’ education yields an average return of $2.80 – translating into billions in additional GDP. Similarly, each dollar spent on water and sanitation saves $4.30 in healthcare costs. Simple math, not miracles These aren’t miracles – they’re measurable outcomes. Maths doesn’t recognize gender or infrastructure; it simply reflects the truth in […]

Gaza: Women and girls struggle to manage their periods amid crisis

Gaza: Women and girls struggle to manage their periods amid crisis

Globally, 1.8 billion people menstruate, yet for many, especially in crises zones, it’s far more than an inconvenience. In war-torn Gaza, around 700,000 women and girls of menstruating age, including thousands experiencing their first period, face this challenge under relentless bombardment and in cramped, unsanitary conditions with little privacy. A human rights issue The United Nations’ sexual […]

‘Keep the lights on’ for women and girls caught up in crisis

‘Keep the lights on’ for women and girls caught up in crisis

The UN’s reproductive health agency, UNFPA, has been working to assess the impact of recent steep funding cuts, warning that from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haiti, Sudan and beyond, a lack of funding for reproductive care or treatment to tackle gender-based violence, is causing untold suffering. Millions of them are already experiencing the […]

Punjab police swing into action over alleged leak of objectionable videos of students

Punjab police swing into action over alleged leak of objectionable videos of students

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav on Monday constituted a three-member all-women Special Investigating Team (SIT), under the supervision of Additional DGP Gurpreet Deo, to investigate allegations by Chandigarh University hostellers over their alleged ‘leaked objectionable videos’. The DGP said one student and two others were arrested. He thanked his counterparts in Himachal Police […]

Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017

Swacch Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017

Students are cleanliness ambassadors: Prakash Javadekar In his Independence Day address to the nation on 15th August, 2014 Hon’ble Prime Minister called upon that all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls. Only then our daughters will not be compelled to leave schools mid way… The Department has taken new […]

Early puberty may mean less time in education for girls

Early puberty may mean less time in education for girls

The age at which girls have their first period may influence how long they stay in education. The findings come from a study in which researchers have tried to untangle the effect of the age at first period from other complex factors that might affect time spent in education, revealing that young women who start […]