International Women’s Day: Obstacles to women’s access to engineering professions must be removed – Eng. Carlien Bou-Chedid

President of the Federation of African Organizations (FAEO), Ing. Carlien Bou-Chedid, called for the dismantling of all the barriers that prevent women from entering the engineering professions.

According to her; “When it comes to female engineering practitioners, they find themselves three times at a disadvantage. In addition to doing work that is not fully appreciated, they face the same difficulties and obstacles that other women face, as well as other difficulties associated with being in a profession largely dominated by women. men ”.

“And yet engineering is so essential to Africa’s development that we must ensure that more people participate in the profession and these must include an equal number of women.”

“Water, electricity, communication, agriculture, health and practically all fields, benefit from engineering inputs and in order to obtain the best solutions, the engineering workforce that provides solutions must reflect the society they serve, ”she stressed.

In a public statement on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the FAEO President urged all sectors of society to create an enabling environment to encourage women and girls not only to explore the fields of engineering, but also to retain their roles as engineers.

“Barriers to women’s entry into the profession as well as those that prevent them from being retained must be removed, which will require a concerted effort from all segments of society. Parents, family members, teachers, educational institutions, workplaces and governments all have a role to play. We must work to reform our education systems to serve our goals, ”she said.

International Women’s Day provides a global opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the world.

Celebrated annually on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important events on the United Nations calendar, raising awareness about equality, women’s achievements and challenges, as well than pushing to accelerate gender parity.

The Day, sanctioned by the United Nations (UN) in 1975, when it officially celebrated it, inspires support for organizations that help women, around the world, and creates the opportunity to raise funds for focused charities. on women.

The 2021 theme of the IWD, announced by UN Women, is: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”, which celebrates the efforts of women and girls to create a more equal future and the pandemic COVID-19 recovery.