THE UNITED Nations (UN) has made a special plea for the intensification of efforts to put innovation by women and girls, and innovation for women and girls, at the center of initiatives to achieve gender equality in Ghana.
UN made the call on the occasion of the 2019 edition of the International Women’s Day.
This year’s celebration is focusing on innovative ways that can propel gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The global theme for this year is the “think equal, build smart, innovate for change.”
International Women’s Day is observed worldwide on March 8 annually, and seeks to bring to the fore women’s rights and gender equality.
Acting UN Resident Coordinator, Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, in a statement said “innovation can help us address some of the barriers that women and girls face in accessing public services and opportunities. We should make it central to our efforts to promote women’s empowerment and in doing so, we need to make sure that women and girls are not only just consumers of innovation but that they are given the space to be innovators themselves. The countless numbers of life-changing inventions created by women throughout history, prove that they are capable to do so when society doesn’t get in their way.”
The UN noted in the statement that there was the need to encourage innovation and invest in technology to expand the access to opportunities and skills for women and men, facilitate the transition from education to employment, and close the gender gap.
It said “women and girls must have opportunities to contribute to making real change and help shape the policies, services and infrastructure that impact their lives.”
The statement observed that achieving a gender-equal world requires social innovations that work for both women and men and leave no one behind.
“From urban planning that focuses on community safety to e-learning platforms that take classrooms to women and girls, affordable and quality childcare centres, and technology shaped by women, innovation can take the race for gender equality to its finishing line by 2030,” it added.
The statement further said “on this International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Ghana celebrates all Ghanaian women and remains committed to ensure equal opportunities and participation in the development process in the country.”
BY Melvin Tarlue