值妇女和女童参与科学国际日之际，让我们向参与科学的妇女和女童表示最坚定的支持。

女童一直面临着各种成见以及社会文化壁垒， 这大大限制她们获得教育和科研经费的机会，阻碍她们走上科学道路并充分发挥自己的潜力。妇女在科学研究和决策中仍然处在少数地位。这为实现《 2030 年可持续发展议程》和《巴黎气候变化协定》的各项努力笼罩了阴影， 这两个文件都强调了性别平等和科学的关键作用。

与此同时，女童和妇女背负着最为沉重的贫困和不平等负担， 她们在气候变化以及自然灾害中首当其冲。 农村以及处境不利地区的女童和妇女受到的冲击最为严重。

要真正改善这样的局面， 必须从妇女的权利和尊严着手， 让她们的聪明才智和创新能力得到充分发挥。 这是联合国气候变化框架公约最近两届缔约方会议（ 第二十一届和第二十二届会议） 期间所发出的信息。 妇女代表着人类创造才干半边天的作用不容忽视。

© Paul Diamond. Measuring longshore currents in Male beach, Seychelles.

必须在所有科学领域， 在从学习到科研、 从行政到教学的所有层面增强女孩和妇女的权能。 以这一目标为基础，教科文组织去年与欧莱雅基金会联合发起“促进妇女参与科学宣言”， 其主旨是促使各国政府和利益攸关方推动女孩和妇女充分参与科学。我们必须激发女孩和女青年参与科学的热情，为年轻女科学家提供指导机会， 以便为她们的职业发展助一臂之力。我们必须提高对女性科学家的工作的认识，为她们参与并领导广泛的高级别科学机构和活动创造平等的机会。

世 界 需 要 科 学 ， 科 学 需 要 女 性 。 我 们 邀 请 大 家 签 署 这 份 宣 言

（ http://www.forwomeninscience.com/en/manifesto） 。 携手并肩， 我们可以有所作为。

© UNESCO/ Alice Ochanda

Scientific Camps of Excellence for Mentoring Girls in STEM (Kenya)

Source: UNESCO Science Report, Towards 2030.

Message from Ms Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11 February 2017

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity for all to take a stand for girls and women in science.

© UNESCO/P. Chiang-Joo, World Science Day for Peace and Development at UNESCO.

Girls continue to face stereotypes and social and cultural restrictions, limiting access to education and funding for research, preventing them from scientific careers and reaching their full potential. Women remain a minority in science research and decision-making. This throws a shadow over all efforts to reach the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change – both of which highlight the keyroles of gender equality and science.

Is the gender gap narrowing in science and engineering?

From the UNESCO Science Report - Towards 2030

At the same time, girls and women shoulder the heaviest burdens of poverty and inequality – they stand on the frontlines of climate change, including the disasters resulting from natural hazards. Girls and women in rural and disadvantaged areas are hit hardest.

Meaningful progress must start with the rights and dignity of women, by nurturing their ingenuity and innovation. This message was sent during the last two Conferences of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21 and 22). Humanity cannot afford to ignore half of its creative genius.

Girls and women must be empowered at every level, in learning and research, from administration to teaching, across all scientific fields. This goal underpins the Manifesto ‘For Women in Science’ that UNESCO launched last year with the L’Oréal Foundation, to engage Governments and stakeholders in promoting the full participation of girls and women in science. We must inspire girls and young women by offering mentoring opportunities to young women scientists to assist in their career development. We must raise awareness about the work of women scientists by providing equal opportunities for their participation and leadership in a broad spectrum of high-level scientific bodies and events.

The world needs science and science needs women. We invite everyone to sign this Manifesto http://www.forwomeninscience.com/en/manifesto). Together,we can make a difference.