In 1910, a group of women from 17 different countries met in Denmark with two intentions: to strengthen the advancement of gender equality and the defence of women’s rights and to push for the universality of women’s suffrage. It was then, at the request of the German politician Clara Zetkin, that 8 March was proclaimed International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day was first celebrated on 19 March 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. On this day, rallies were held, attended by more than a million people, demanding the right to vote and to hold public office, the right to work, the right to vocational training and non-discrimination of women in the workplace.
Since then, International Women’s Day has been a global commemoration to raise awareness of the need and importance of empowering women and girls in diverse environments and protecting their rights. It is a day to highlight the inequalities and prejudices that exist between genders, and the discrimination that still exists in many parts of the world.
Today, 8 March 2023, SICE continues to support progress in equality and inclusion. Therefore, in line with the theme chosen by UN Women “For an inclusive digital world: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, the women of SICE have attended several schools and institutes to tell young people that technology and science is an option for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity or social status. It is about understanding that technology and science exist and can be accessed by everyone. Inclusion in the technological field leads to more creative solutions with greater capacity to innovate and satisfy all social groups.
Many thanks to our colleagues, who have committed themselves to technology and have wanted to convey that the STEM field is an option for everyone.
When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion (IWD, 2023).
