An event in the format of a video conference was held on February 11 on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science as part of the "Year of Women" announced by ICESCO.
AZERTAC informs that First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the event in video format.
Welcoming the participants, ICESCO Director General Salim al-Malik stressed the importance of the role of science in the future of the younger generation. He noted that events on women's participation in science will be held as part of the "Year of Women" announced by ICESCO.
Noting that the reliable persons will speak at the event, Salim al-Malik first presented a video speech by First Vice President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva.
The speech of first vice president Mehriban Aliyeva:
Dear Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director General of ICESCO.
Ladies and gentleman.
Dear friends.
First of all, I would like to thank the Director General for the polite invitation to participate in such a prestigious event as an honorary guest.
It is a great honor for me and I consider this invitation to be a manifestation of our appreciation of our policy on the development of women's participation in education and science.
Dear friends, science, technology and innovation have become necessary to meet global challenges. Science and gender equality are important for achieving international development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
I would like to congratulate ICESCO on its initiative to declare 2021 the Year of Women. This is not just a manifestation of the importance that the organization attaches to the role of women in our society. We must pay tribute to the female scientists, doctors and health workers who are at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 today.
I am not only proud of the country that for the first time in the world, a century ago, an oil well was drilled, the first opera was opened in the East, and most importantly, the first democratic republic in the Muslim world. Azerbaijan also went down in history in 1918 as one of the first countries to give women the right to vote and be elected. As for girls 'education, the first secular girls' school in the Muslim East was established by the Azerbaijani philanthropist Zeynalabdin Tagiyev in 1901 in Baku, where I was born.
Today, the literacy rate in Azerbaijan is close to 100 percent. Women make up 54% of masters, 51% of doctors of philosophy, 46% of doctors and 56% of researchers in higher education institutions in our country. 59% of the total staff of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences are women.
As I noted, many Azerbaijani women have made great contributions to science, and they are a real source of inspiration for girls and young women in science.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's agree that science, technology and innovation are the leading force in the socio-economic development of societies in the world. As a goodwill ambassador for ICESCO, I call on all member states to invest more in these areas, as well as to develop the necessary policies and joint action plans.
Respectable participants of the event, I would like to take this opportunity to thank ICESCO and its Director General, Dr. Salim Al, for their valuable support during last year's 44-day Patriotic War, which resulted in the liberation of our Armenian-occupied territories by Azerbaijan after 30 years and the restoration of historical justice.
In conclusion, I wish ICESCO success in its noble and important work, and good health, happiness and prosperity to all participants and their families. Thank you.
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Director General Salim al-Malik said:
- First Vice President, thank you for this inspiring speech to ICESCO and scientists. We appreciate your participation in this event. You can be sure that ICESCO will support all member states in science, education and culture. Thank you again.
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It should be noted that female scientists and specialists of the Institute of Information Technologies of ANAS also took part in the online event.
