” Empowering Women in the Digital world ”. Remarks of the UN Resident Coordinator for Moldova Mr. Simon Springett

Clearly, the integration of a gender perspectives in technology and innovation is crucial to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Which I must highlight, also has about an 80% overlap with the EU Aquis, so delivering on the SDG’s delivers on EU integration.

The theme this year is exceptionally topical given the increased focus on gender empowerment and digitalization by the Government. As such it is important that we collectively focus on how we can ensure mutually beneficially.

However, at a global level, policies and programmes to increase parity in science and technology largely continue to focus on driving change on women, rather than on the people and institutions that are perpetuating stereotypes and on unsupportive education and work environments.

As a result, initiatives to address gender gaps in technology over the past years have not generated discernible changes and tend to deploy unsustainable short-term actions that are limited in scope. Policy action needs to prioritize inclusion and equity considerations to ensure that women are equipped with the knowledge, awareness and skills to leverage connectivity for their economic and social empowerment and that digital services are tailored to be accessible and valuable to all women.

The digitalization of, and planned digitalization of many additional services provides unique opportunities to empower women as economic, social and political actors. If we us this opportunity to think about the varying aspects affecting different users, including women and girls. At the development stage is the time to think about the timing, functionability, and access to these services. That time is now and we must ensure we don’t lose this opportunity.

Digital financial services can contribute to women’s financial inclusion, enabling them to save, build assets, secure loans or expand their businesses.

In Moldova, choosing a profession is strongly influenced by gender roles. Girls tend to choose specializations related to the liberal arts subjects (philology, political science, social sciences, social assistance, etc.). This gender segregation is specific to all stages of higher education (vocational, bachelor and master degrees, and PhD level). Although the proportion of girls who choose to study and further work in STEM related areas is growing, the gender gap in this area remains high.

This limits women’s access to fast-growing and well-paid careers and their direct participation in shaping technologies and leading investments, research, public policy and businesses.

The underrepresentation of women in science and technology is influenced by societal stereotypes and factors, such as the predisposition of parents to discourage girls from choosing a career in this area, the reputation of higher institutions of study, the ability of girls to finance their studies, and information about career opportunities in these fields. The same study revealed that under 20% of female respondents knew about programmes and opportunities aimed at improving their knowledge and abilities in STEM areas. In rural areas this percentage is significantly lower.

This creates a self-perpetuating cycle, where girls are not encouraged to enter technology-related arenas, lack knowledge about technology, feel no affinity with role models portrayed by the media and therefore do not express interest.

Digital transitions also need to be accompanied by expanded social protection measures. The new jobs generated by the rise of the platform economy often upends traditional employment models without improving the overall labour market position of women. They tend to replicate the same biases found in traditional employment, including lower pay, instability and a lack of labour protection and entitlements, such as social security, child or long-term care services or care leave policies or the right to engage in collective action. Recent changes in national child care legislations, if funded and implemented effectively could be transformative.

The digital age is transformational and can provide opportunities for women to thrive in the future of work, access essential digital services and increase in civic and political engagement. Harnessing technology and innovation for the political and socioeconomic empowerment of women and girls is essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but requires prioritizing inclusion and safety.

Efforts to close the gender digital divide and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital economy and society must be expanded and grounded in equity. The benefits of digital technologies must be equally distributed, and their development and use anchored in human rights-based approaches and the principles of inclusivity, fairness, universality, transparency and accountability. The disproportionate and distinct effects of digitalization on women and girls must be recognized and addressed – as part of strategy development and planning – not after - to prevent the reinforcement of negative social norms and gender stereotypes, as well as democratic backsliding.

The 67th session of the Commission of the Status of Women and the subsequent development of the Global Digital Compact, as laid out in Our Common Agenda, provides an ongoing opportunity for us to shape a future in Moldova where technology contributes to transforming social norms, amplifying women’s voices, pushing back against online harassment, preventing the perpetuation of algorithmic biases, and distributing the benefits of digitalization equally to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.