The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) remains one of the most important and significant annual events here at the United Nations. As we all convene during this period, as ever, the rights of women and girls continue to be threatened and violated across the planet and the priority theme of the 67th session rightly coincides with the theme of the 77th General Assembly, to harness science and technology for a sustainable future.

H.E. Ambassador Beresford-Hill emphasized that ‘the current technological era has been a proven force in breaking down barriers of knowledge previously only held for men. Greater diversity in the workplace would provide a global and more accurate view of the major challenges our society faces. To understand and effectively respond to the problems of the world in which we live, we need an egalitarian society in which men and women can be found in every industrial, scientific, and technological sector.’

He concluded his statement saying that ‘This pedagogic approach remains one of our strongest hopes in achieving gender equality and global sustainability and must harness the potential of technological innovation that we have created towards inclusivity. The scant presence of women doesn’t just represent a lost opportunity for them but for society as a whole.’