(Photo: Female leaders on science, technology and innovation having photos with the Organizing Committee)
Participating in the Conference were 65 participants who were female leaders on science and technology (S&T) of 40 countries in the world. Mos.Le Thi Khanh Van –Deputy Director of the National Agency for Science and Technology, MOST was invited by the Organizing Committee.
In the Conference, participants discussed about directions to promote the gender equity and create favourable conditions so that women could be equal with men in the participation in fields of education and training, especially in S&T research and innovation.
After 3 days of discussions, the Conference agreed with the Joint Statement with a lot of specific content, in which some opinions have been affirmed as education at all levels is the right of human beings, men and women are equal with each other; telecommunication plays a significant role in promoting the gender equity in S&T and innovation; the contribution of women in S&T is recognized, especially the application of S&T advancement in rural areas; the gender equity in S&T education and training is recognized; the role of Governments in promoting the gender equity in every field including S&T and innovation. At the same time it is proposed that Governments, international organizations and scientific communities provide guidelines on research at all level in order to identify and understand basic elements of the lack of women in S&T presently as well as strategies and actions to guide the gender equity; women should be created with favourable conditions to learn in fields of S&T and innovation, policies formulated and decisions made at all level; private sector and professional associations encourage to invest in programs on professional development for women. Together it is recommended thatauthorities should create more S&T advancements appropriate with demands and visions of women; international cooperation strengthened, the global women network established and developed to share experience in the field of education and training on S&T for women, especially through cooperation projects of developing countries with developed countries.
The participants agreed to submit their Government the Joint Statement of the Conference and propose the Government to introduce mechanisms and policies on creatingfavourableconditions for women to participate more in fields of their national education, training, research and development of S&T and innovation.