at the opening of the first African Women in Science and Technology Conference,
Johannesburg
29 August 2007
The Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Mme Phumzile
Mlambo-Ngcuka
Honourable Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Professor
Nagia M Essayed
Honourable Minister of Zimbabwe, Doctor Muchena
Honourable Minister of Senegal, Professor Gassama Dia
Honourable Minister of Lesotho, Minister Khaketetla
Honourable Minister of Cameroon, Minister Tchuinte
Honourable Minister of Rwanda, Professor Murenzi
His Worship the Mayor of Johannesburg, Councillor Amos Masondo
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
This First African Women in Science and Technology Conference presents a
golden opportunity to consolidate and enhance our programmes to achieve
improved gender equity.
Since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, African
women, in particular, have worked hard to enhance the gains of international
struggles to remove barriers to effective women participation in science and
technology. The Beijing Platform for Action correctly observed that without the
active participation of women and incorporation of women perspectives in all
levels of decision making, the goals of women empowerment, especially in the
fields of science, technology and engineering, cannot be achieved.
This first conference of the African Union on Women in Science and
Technology should go beyond the rhetoric, and come up with strategic
resolutions to translate gains in women empowerment programmes into measures
that governments in Africa can implement in order to improve meaningful
participation of women in science and technology. This conference also presents
another opportunity to help Africa deal with the under-representation of women
in the field of science and technology.
In November 2006, as African Ministers responsible for Science and
Technology, we committed ourselves at the African Union Extra-Ordinary
Conference to promoting greater participation of women and youth in science and
technology. This conference, therefore, is taking place against the
continent-wide objectives of achieving gender parity in science and
technology.
Ladies and gentlemen, engaging in science and technology has been and
continues to be an integral part of our progress as humans. Both women and men,
the world over have conducted research that has assisted humanity to improve
the quality of life.
Despite this history of involvement, general data still shows that
substantial inequality between men and women still exists, especially in the
field of science, technology and innovation. The Consolidated Plan of Action
that we adopted as African Ministers responsible for Science and Technology in
our respective countries, acknowledges that Africa is losing best scientists to
other regions. Hence, declaration and dedication of 2007 as a launching year of
building constituencies and champions for science, technology and innovation in
Africa, by the African Union Summit of the Heads of State and Government.
It is challenging to make one's way through the many study fields at
universities, particularly the fields of engineering, science and technology.
But the obstacles encountered by women in the academic and other fields are
pervasive, and require specific strategies. With a mere 29% estimated total
number of researchers in Africa, women are faced with even greater challenges.
Surely, this undesirable state of affairs challenges African governments to
find ways of improving the situation. Our women generally carry the heaviest
burden of poverty, lower education levels, greater unemployment and an overall
lower quality of life than the rest of the population.
Recognising the role that science and technology plays towards the
betterment of the human condition in many developed states, it is now evident
that we need to place special emphasis to improve the access of women in the
continent to science. We need to have more girls finishing high school and
going through universities. It is the female scientists who are most likely to
develop suitable innovative solutions to the challenges faced by women. The
trend indicates that although more young females enrol in the fields of SET, on
average, they remain less qualified than men, receive a significantly smaller
slice of the rewards and recognition on offer, and are clustered in certain
scientific domains. It is discrepancies such as these that we must direct our
energies at.
Through practical application of knowledge and expertise, we need to move
substantively towards generating innovative solutions to some of Africa's most
pressing social and economic challenges. We must also commit ourselves to
achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and within that context,
promote gender equity and empower women and girl children. I have no doubt that
some of the resolutions that will emerge from this conference will contribute
to the developmental programmes of the African Union to strengthen efforts by
member states to achieve equity in the fields of science, technology and
innovation.
We must therefore proceed with speed to identify niche areas for promoting
the role of women in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad)
flagship programmes, and as articulated in Africa's Consolidated Plan of
Action. I urge all of us here to go back to our respective countries and strive
to do justice to our great continent.
May I, in closing, take this opportunity to wish the first ever African
Women in Science and Technology Conference great success?
It is now my pleasure to request the Deputy President of the Republic of
South Africa, Mme Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to address the Conference.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
29 August 2007
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za)
