HR0720 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0720 LRB101 19996 ECR 69522 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The idea for an International Day of Women and Girls in Science was generated during the 2015 Inaugural High-Level World Women's Health and Development Forum organized by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DES); and

WHEREAS, This Forum was held at the United Nations Headquarters, with the participation of government Ministers and representatives, UNESCO, UN-Women, WHO, UNRWA, UNICEF, UNFPA, the Every Woman Every Child Initiative, and others; most of the distinguished guests and speakers at the Inaugural Forum, whether at ministerial, intergovernmental, diplomatic, academic or professional levels, were women in science; and

WHEREAS, Despite progress in ensuring opportunities for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, women and girls continue to be systematically underrepresented as users and leaders in these areas; in order to achieve sustainable development goals, we need to ensure full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls; and

WHEREAS, Recent studies suggest that 65 percent of children entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist; while more girls are attending school than before, girls are significantly under-represented in STEM subjects in many settings, and they appear to lose interest in STEM subjects as they reach adolescence; and

WHEREAS, Debunking the myths that girls do not like the sciences and other gender stereotypes, along with investment in teacher trainings, gender-responsive technology, and innovation, can reverse these trends; and

WHEREAS, Less than 30 percent of researchers worldwide are women; with too few women in decision making roles and higher-paying STEM jobs, the gender gap in STEM has deep implications for the future of global economy; women stand to gain only one new STEM job for every 20 lost, in stark contrast to men, who gain one new STEM job for every four lost; and

WHEREAS, Women still have less than two-thirds of the economic opportunity that men have; the jobs of the future will be driven by technology and innovation, and if the gender divide in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is not bridged soon, the overall gender gap is likely to widen; and

WHEREAS, Improved recruitment, retention, and promotion policies, as well as continuous learning and skills development for women, can go a long way towards closing this gap; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare February 11, 2020 as Women and Girls in Science Day.