At the recent Asian Women’s Forum in Samarkand, experts and policymakers discussed the worldwide disparities in education, science, and technology, especially for women. With startling statistics revealing that 32.1% of young women aged 15 to 24 worldwide lack education, work, or vocational training, compared to 15.4% of men in the same age group, urgent attention is being drawn to address this gender gap.
The disparity is especially pronounced in regions like Central and South Asia, where the numbers are significantly higher, indicating a pressing need for targeted interventions to ensure equitable access to educational and professional opportunities.
During the discussions, several factors contributing to this gender gap were identified. Discrimination against young women in the workplace, coupled with the burden of unpaid domestic work and unequal distribution of household responsibilities, were highlighted as institutional barriers hindering girls' transition from school to employment. Furthermore, the lack of suitable job opportunities adds to the challenges faced by young women, perpetuating the cycle of inequality.
Experts emphasized the importance of scholarships and other forms of support to enable young women to pursue higher education or develop their skills, thereby narrowing the gender gap in education and employment.
Despite these challenges, there has been a gradual increase in the proportion of young people and adults with ICT skills, indicating progress in closing the gender gap in access to digital technologies. Moreover, the participation of working-age women and men in education and training has seen a significant rise since 2015, underscoring the importance of continued efforts to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The discussions also delved into strategies for creating an enabling environment for women's equal access to education, vocational training, and innovative activities. This includes addressing ongoing crises and security challenges, fostering the development of women-led startups, harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence, and digitalizing rural areas to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.
Particular attention was paid to the root causes of gender imbalance in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, with a focus on Asian countries. Participants highlighted the need to address barriers to women's participation in high-tech industries and the importance of promoting women's startups and entrepreneurship in driving technological innovation.
Moreover, the discussions shed light on the efforts to analyze achievements and disseminate best practices in expanding rural women's access to digital technologies and innovations. By ensuring the equitable distribution of technological benefits, stakeholders aim to facilitate the sustainable development of rural areas and empower women as key drivers of progress.
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