Science & Technology -
Regional Perspectives

Whether we live in sub-Saharan Africa, equatorial South America or Scandinavia, women face basically the same problems.

The regions of the world do vary culturally, ideologically, and otherwise. Despite these differences, however, these regions have displayed great similarities in identifying and agreeing on the areas of concern to be addressed at the Fourth World Conference on Women, in Beijing.

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The five regions - Europe and North America, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia - have recognized science and technology as critical to any sustainable development. This recognition is due, in part, to the efforts of the Once and Future Action Network (OFAN), which facilitated workshops on science and technology at some of the regional preparatory meetings in an attempt to have it included on the regional agendas. Some recommendations coming out of the OFAN Science and Technology Workshops were included in the NGO Plans of Action for the regions, and, ultimately, in some of the Regional Platforms for Action.

But, priorities differ from region to region, as shown in the different emphases of the Regional Platforms for Action. For example, the main theme in the document coming out of the Asia and Pacific Region is legal literacy and development planning, the document from the Africa region emphasized entrepreneurship, and the Platform for Action for the Latin America and Caribbean region focussed on violence against women and political participation.

Given their diversity and differences in development, some regions have placed more emphasis on the area of science and technology than others. All five regions recognize, however, that science and technology cannot be completely separated from other issues which affect women. An examination of the Platforms for Action from the various regions reveals the striking similarities, as well as the differences, in the regional perceptions of science and technology vis-a-vis the advancement of women.

Some of the strategic objectives relating to science and technology are:

The Latin America and the Caribbean Region
• The elimination of gender stereotypes from curricula, and the increase in women's access to education in science and technology.
• The improvement of the situation of rural women through investment in rural development.
• Women's increased access to new telecommunications and information technologies and the training of women to operate the systems in question.
The Africa Region
• To develop relevant science curricula to incorporate current advances in science and technology and to provide for the integration of indigenous science and technology into mainstream teaching.
• To integrate into the curriculum vocational and technical education as part of mainstream education. Women's technological, scientific knowledge and managerial skills should be improved in order to enhance their participation in industrial production, innovation, productive design, product adaptation and production techniques.
• To develop and make available relevant, cheap technologies.
The Asia and Pacific Region
• To ensure women's participation in the new areas of scientific and technological skills on an equal footing with men.
• Efforts should be made to break down notions about scientific and technical expertise being primarily a prerogative of men.
• Research and development should be encouraged to bring the scientific and technological knowledge into the design of affordable equipment to reduce the drudgery of housework.
The Western Asia Region
• Women should be encouraged towards professional, scientific and technological specializations in which they can play an innovative, creative role.
• Women, particularly those who are heads of families, should be provided with the necessary skills training and the appropriate technology to assist them in entrepreneurial ventures.
• Adequate opportunities should be made available for the participation of women in the advanced scientific and technical fields according to their capabilities in all areas with a view to increasing their contribution to economic life and raising their income level.
Europe and North America
• To ensure that more women are educated in the field of science and technology, for stronger representation of women at political and economic decision-making levels.
• To ensure that women have access to information and education which provide an adequate basis for participation in environment decisions affecting their health, food, security and safety.
• Girls should be encouraged to pursue vigorous academic and technical curricula to widen their future opportunities.

The Regional Platforms for Action reflect, in varying degrees, some of the thematic areas which the Once and Future Action Network (OFAN) has identified as having most potential for improvement in women's lives through science and technology. These thematic areas include: education, appropriate technology, indigenous knowledge, entrepreneurship, and communication.

The emphasis which the regions have placed on the need for greater education of women in the field shows a consensus: education is the catalyst to the most far-reaching changes. Education presents women with a chance to make informed choices. With education, women can influence policy-making, they can change the direction of policies which do not reflect their concerns and perceptions, and they can be active participants in the application of science and technology for sustainable development. Through education in science and technology, women can improve on their traditional knowledge, they can improve their employment potentials, and increase their incomes.

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