International Day of Women and Girls in Science, on the 10th of February, 2017, took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Princess Dr Nisreen El-Hashemite, Executive Director, RASIT has invited the President Hon. Aykut Eken to participate as a speaker, during Session 3, to discuss “Development Cooperation Perspective on the Role of Women in Science and Media in Implementing the SDGs”.
It was a great honour for the President Hon. Aykut Eken, but it is also a very fruitful opportunity for the World Federation of Consuls to get international exposure within the United Nations headquarters.
Consuls who attended to Conference on 10th of February; President of FICAC, Hon. Aykut Eken, Vice-President of FICAC, Hon. Kostakis Lefkaritis, Honorary Consul for The Bahamas and Dean of Consular Corps of Trinidad & Tobago, Hon. Dr. E. Monica Davis; Honorary Consul of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Gonul Eken.
The idea for an International Day of Women and Girls in Science was generated during the first High-Level World Women’s Health and Development Forum organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and held on February 11th 2015 at the United Nations Headquarters.
Following outreach to a number of partners and stakeholders at all levels and with RASIT’s partnership with the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties, the Republic of Malta, a milestone year was reached in which the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution (70/212) proclaiming February 11th annually the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The sponsorship of more than 68 countries and the approval of all Member States to the resolution signals the
global community’s interest in transforming our world through achieving gender parity in educational opportunity and scientific participation.
The First Commemoration was organised by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and held at the United Nations Headquarters, with participation by UN Member States, the two focal points of UNESCO and UN Women, UN DESA, private sector, academia, and other civil society actors, including girls in science and a special introduction of a “He for She” element.
The Second Commemoration, organised by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust and the Ministry of Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties of Malta, was held at the United Nations Headquarters, during the Maltese Presidency of the European Union Presidency, and will focus firmly on the “Gender, Science and Sustainable Development: The Impact of Media”.
