On this International Woman’s Day, Supply Chain Matters highlights for readers a United Nations report that places a spotlight on digital equality and equal rights.
Today, the United Nations General Assembly met in special session as some 1,800 people gathered to mark International Women’s Day, which this year focused on the need for inclusive and transformative technology and digital education.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recorded a video on Twitter with a “Call to action to stand with women around the world who are demanding their fundamental rights, at great personal cost.” He spoke to actions to stand with woman and girls for their full protections against sexual exploitation and abuse along with actions for woman’s full participation and leadership.
A published report featured on the UN web site in conjunction with today’s milestone places a spotlight on “digital gender equality,” pointing out that: “by the mid-century 75 percent of jobs will be related to science, technology or math (STEM).” However, woman currently comprise just 30 percent of the workforce in the 20 largest global tech companies. We might speculate that with the recent wave of layoffs across the tech industry, that such a number may have to be revisited.
Doreen Bogdan-Martin, elected to lead as the first woman Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in its 158-year history, challenged countries to get more woman and girls into STEM, ensuring equal access to digital technologies and opportunities, and “to give women a seat at the digital table and make gender equality a must in every organization.”
A staggering statistic that caught our eye was that many fewer women have no access to the Internet than men.
Much work remains across various dimensions of global supply chains, supply chain management, procurement and product functions, and for supply chain technology development and technical support areas to strive for increased diversity, opportunities and gender equality.
Having worked for multiple woman in my career, and have often added my mentorship of woman striving to climb a male-dominated career ladder, I have continually come to the realization that much work remains, and that woman’s rights and equality are not making progress but rather falling behind.
In today’s prevalent ”survivor wins at all cost” work cultures, as global citizens, we all need to add our voice and our mentorship to ensure that equal opportunities and equality applies to all.
Bob Ferrari
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