"What can I gain from international policies about science and technology? How can these policies change my life and those of women like me?"
These questions, raised by a participant in a local meeting organized in Jamaica by the Once and Future Action Network (OFAN), may well echo those of ordinary women the world over, who see the Fourth World Conference on Women and the various preparations for it as abstractions, bearing little or no relation to their lives.
True, it is heads of governments and government representatives from about 184 countries who will be participating in the official Conference itself. Notwithstanding this, the policies finally agreed on and adopted by the UN Member States will affect all of us, regardless of our status or our region.
The Fourth World Conference on Women and the parallel NGO Forum will present participants with an opportunity to examine global development from a gender perspective, to assess the progress which women have made to date, and to agree on strategic action for future development.
A number of Preparatory Meetings have been held at local, national, regional and international levels in order to have the voices and concerns of diverse women incorporated in the Draft Platform of Action, which will form the basis for the negotiations of member states at the Beijing Conference.
The Once and Future Action Network (OFAN) has held its own meetings and consultations, bringing to the forefront a gender perspective in the application of science and technology in global development strategies.
In our activities to date, OFAN, now consisting of over sixty international NGOs involved in science and technology, has called upon individuals, organizations and governments, to recognize the need to re-orient the science and technology agenda towards more holistic, people-centred approaches to development.
It is the intention of the Once and Future Action Network to influence the Platform for Action primarily because science and technology cuts across many of the critical areas which have been identified as barriers to the advancement of women in all regions of the world.
Although science and technology has not been identified as a critical area of concern, in the words of Gertude Mongella, Secretary General of the Fourth World Conference on Women, we "cannot get anything accomplished without the application of science and technology." It is mainly through science and technology that we can improve on the achievements of the past world conferences on women.
By placing science and technology on the international agenda, OFAN aims not only to draw attention to women's past, present and future roles in development, but to influence action which will improve the position of women. For example, science and technology can undoubtedly eliminate the inequalities which women now face in health care and related services.
In the same way, the availability of technological innovations to all will unquestionably make an impact in terms of poverty alleviation. Now, with much of the technological innovations controlled by the rich, there is significant marginalization of the poor, most of whom are women.
Women's lack of access to productive technological resources not only makes them dependent and thus susceptible to all forms of abuse and violence. It also hinders their full participation in economic development. Increased access to science and technology will improve women's employment opportunities and, at the same time, decrease their workload. For example, with the availability of more affordable equipment, women involved in cottage industries could produce much more in less time, thus strengthening their income-generating capabilities.
Their inadequate access to science education and technological training keep women from taking an active role in the development process. Through education women can play a more pivotal role as scientists -not simply as beneficiaries, but as innovators, inventors, and policy makers.
Another area of concern in which science and technology can make a difference is that of armed conflict, which now see enormous spending on research, production and purchases of military technologies. Less military spending and more expenditure on scientific research for sustainable development will benefit women and whole societies.
OFAN believes that, with women becoming no longer the mere recipients, but active participants in the development and implementation of science and technology, fewer will need to ask "What has science got to do with me?" Many more will benefit.