Diary of a UN Women Delegate at CSW68

I was lucky enough this year to be chosen as a 2024 UN Women Delegate, sitting in on the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) which takes place each year in March, live from the United Nations Headquarters in New York and instrumental in promoting women’s rights.

The annual event sees leaders from the gender quality space come together to document the reality of women’s lives around the world, whilst shaping global standards on gender equality and the global empowerment of women.

It must be said that whilst monumental progress has been made to integrate gender equality into mainstream international thought and action, we are still CENTURIES AWAY FROM GENDER EQUALITY.

Estimates say it will take:

• 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership at work – not in my lifetime.
• Up to 286 years to close legal gaps and remove discriminatory laws.
• At least 40 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.

This is why CSW is needed and where change begins!

So what did I learn across the events I joined??

1.?????? Leadership Representation: Many countries acknowledge the importance of promoting women in leadership roles across various sectors to address gender gaps and ensure active participation in decision-making processes.

2.?????? Legal and Policy Measures: Several nations have implemented or are advocating for laws and regulations to protect women's rights, including decriminalization of abortion, gender-based violence prevention, and economic equality measures such as fair pay and childcare support.

3.?????? International Cooperation: There is a call for international cooperation and action, particularly in conflict zones, to ensure the safety and rights of women, demand ceasefires, and address structural violence and human rights violations.

4.?????? Economic Empowerment: Efforts towards women's economic empowerment include fair distribution of unpaid care work, support for single parents, closing the gender pay gap, and providing social protection and economic programs.

5.?????? Social and Cultural Shifts: Cultural shifts are recognized as necessary to encourage more women to enter the labor market, challenge stereotypes, and promote gender equality as a societal norm.

6.?????? Solidarity and Engagement: Feminine solidarity and engagement from both men and women are highlighted as crucial factors for driving change and advocating for women's rights, including sexual and reproductive rights.

A discussion close to my heart, given my work in this field, one of the sessions I joined was focused on the importance of gender equality in media and advertising and outlined several key points and strategies to address the ongoing lack of representation of women.

Here's a summary of the main points and suggestions for overcoming this issue:

Current State of Media Representation:

• Media and advertising is still predominantly led by men.
• Lack of respect and dignity for women in mainstream media persists.
• Women's representation in various sectors such as science, health, economy, etc, has declined.
• Marginalized and vulnerable women are less likely to be interviewed in media, with even lower representation for indigenous or racial minority women, immigrants, or those with disabilities.
• News media often miss opportunities to challenge gender stereotypes.
• Statutory regulation of gender in media worldwide is scarce.

What Can Be Done:

• Conduct media monitoring to track gender representation - Sarah Macharia does some great work in this space!
• Implement legal frameworks to combat sexual prejudices.
• Address gender inequality in society and challenge the normalization of inferiority.
• Foster engagement from all stakeholders, including men, to support gender equality initiatives.

Strategies for Change:

• Increase visibility of positive masculinity in media representations.
• Promote stereotype-free media and advertising, acknowledging that short-term change may be challenging, but engaging in conversations is crucial.
• Utilize data and research findings to drive advocacy efforts and credibility.
• Form partnerships to drive visibility and amplify impact.
• Challenge unconscious biases and micro-aggressions through training and peer review processes - some great insights here from Caleb Goodman
• Ensure diversity and representation in decision-making and leadership positions within media and advertising agencies.

A spokesman from Dove also joined the discussion, Alejandro Fiecconi sharing how marketing and advertising are agents of change breaking down male stereotypes in media and?#DoveMen+Care actions to champion a healthier masculinity globally. Dove keep up the awesome work!

We all have a duty to serve our industry and call out gender misidentification of the use of gender stereotyping.

One of my most powerful sessions for me, especially where I work in technology at a business at the forefront of AI, this session was particularly standout for me highlighting the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with gender equality and the potential threats and opportunities it presents.

Here's a summary of the key points I noted down during my attendance in the session.

Challenges and Threats:

• AI systems are prone to bias and can perpetuate existing inequalities and discrimination.
• There are concerns about the exploitation of victims, including gender-based violence and non-consensual creation of images of women using AI.
• The improper use of algorithmic decision-making can reinforce gender stereotypes and exclusion.
• Only a quarter of women currently hold roles in the tech industry, indicating a significant gender gap in this field.
• Opportunities and Strategies
• It is essential to harness AI to support women and girls and contribute to gender equality.
• To achieve this, there is a need for proper governance and regulation of AI systems, including global standards and norms.
• Training programs and education initiatives should encourage more women to pursue careers in AI and technology.
• There is a call for a feminist-informed framework for AI development and implementation, addressing power imbalances and inequalities in AI ecosystems.
• Measures such as bias mitigation tools and gender bias review in the design and implementation of AI systems are crucial.
• Access to technology and digital democracy should be promoted to ensure women's participation and safety online.
• Policy and Regulation:
• The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, enacted on March 13, 2024 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_Intelligence_Act) represents a step towards regulating AI systems to ensure they are trained with high-quality data, traceable, auditable, and transparently explainable.
• Member states should ensure that AI systems do not perpetuate gender stereotyping and discriminatory biases, aligning with international human rights standards and norms.

So whilst AI presents both challenges and opportunities for gender equality, proactive measures such as education, regulation, and the adoption of feminist-informed frameworks are essential to harness its potential for the advancement of women and girls globally.

Here are some examples of the work that companies like IBM, Google, and Microsoft are doing to foster diversity and inclusion in AI:

IBM

• IBM has established various initiatives focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in AI, such as the IBM Women in AI program.
• The company provides mentorship opportunities, networking events, and leadership development programs for women interested in AI and technology.
• IBM has also launched educational initiatives like the IBM SkillsBuild platform, offering free online courses in AI and other emerging technologies to help individuals, including women, acquire relevant skills.

谷歌

• Google's Women Techmakers program aims to increase the visibility, community, and resources for women in technology, including AI.
• The company offers scholarships, networking events, and leadership workshops specifically tailored to women pursuing careers in AI and related fields.
• Google is actively involved in outreach and partnerships with organizations focused on promoting diversity in technology, such as Girls Who Code and AnitaB.org.

微软

• Microsoft's AI for Good initiative includes a focus on diversity and inclusion, aiming to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to everyone.
• The company offers various programs and resources for underrepresented groups in AI, including women. This includes scholarships, mentorship programs, and workshops.
• Microsoft is committed to supporting diversity in AI research and development, actively recruiting and retaining diverse talent and promoting inclusive practices within the organization.

After listening to this session, I grew passionate about wanting to volunteer and work with groups in this space, to ensure this important work is not left behind as we advance so fast.

For NAM folks, these are ones I found and hope to be able to support and learn from:

Women in AI - Women in AI (#WAI) - Bhuva Shakti

Home - AI Now Institute

NYC Media Lab | NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Data & Society (datasociety.net)

Tech:NYC (technyc.org)

Homepage - AI ETHICS LAB

Women WithAI?

Investing in women is both an economic imperative and a human rights issue! There is still work to do for a fair and equal world.