RightsTech Women is working to increase the numbers of women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and to make sure they know their rights. To accomplish this, RTW has programs in research (and data visualization, to come); human rights education and United Nations advocacy; and, STEM capacity building.

RightsTech Women: News and Recent Activities

11 June 2023: Make posters with RightsTech Women calling for equal representation of STEM – in advance of the Grève Feministe – Genève (14.06.2023)

#frauenstreik #grevedesfemmes #grevedesfemmes2023 #WomenInSTEM

• https://grevefeministe-ge.ch/
  
• https://www.grevefeministe.ch/evenements/14-juin-2023/
• https://www.14juin.ch/

ITU-D Study Group 1 to Hold Public Workshop at ITU on 15 May 2023, on   ‘Meaningful Connectivity: Women Experts and Young Experts Inclusion’

Coming up soon: a public workshop at the International Telecommunication Union on 15 May 2023, in the framework of ITU-D Study Group 1. RightsTech Women’s Ellen Walker has been invited as a panelist to share some experience. It should be a good discussion with other women and youth experts, ITU and stakeholders. For more information and on how to register: https://itu.int/go/SG-workshops. In EN/FR. #femalefounders #womeninSTEM #womenintechnology #ICTsforSDGs #genderequality

Happy International Women’s Day 2023: “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”

Committee on NGOs of the UN’s European and Social Council (ECOSOC) approves RTW for special consultative status

An important milestone for RightsTech Women’s institutional development is in progress. On 24 January 2023, the Committee on NGOs, of the United Nations’ European and Social Council (ECOSOC) has approved RightsTech Women for ECOSOC special consultative status. There remains another step, for the ECOSOC parent body of the Committee to adopt the decision of its Committee on NGOs. Read more: https://rightstech.org/advocacy-and-hret/.

Elargis Tes Horizons, 12 November 2022: RTW and other organizations to offer STEM activities for girls aged 11-14 in the Geneva area

Parents of girls aged 11-14 years old living in Geneva and the surrounding region: Register your daughters for Elargis Tes Horizons 12 Nov. 2022 at Uni-Mail (UNIGE). RightsTech Women (RTW) and many other organizations will have workshops and booths in French and English. RTW will give a workshop on using satellite data to understand climate change. It’s an amazing day for girls to explore STEM and get inspired to do STEM careers. Another nice feature of this event is the participation of many Elargis event alumnae, namely, girls who formerly did the program and then went on to study STEM and who now come back as volunteers. It promises to be a wonderful day — join us!

For more info and to register: https://www.elargisteshorizons.ch/en/

#WomenInSTEM #womeninscience University of Geneva

 

22-23 Oct. 2022 – CodeWeek: RightsTech Women and partners trained 16 girls and women in full-stack web programming

What an amazing weekend! RightsTech Women and partners trained 16 women and girls aged 14 and older using the Django Girls tutorial as modified by CERN. Warm thanks to our wonderful partners, CERN Women in Technology, CERN Micro Club, SDG Solution Space, SDGZine and the Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva for a truly inspiring event. Too bad the weekend had to end so quickly.

 

Europe #CodeWeek is starting soon! Add your coding event in Switzerland to the ‘Activities’ map.

EU Code Week is a grassroots initiative which aims to bring coding and digital literacy to everybody in a fun and engaging way. The anniversary edition of EU Code Week marks 10 years of bringing coding to classrooms across Europe and beyond. The tenth anniversary edition of EU Code Week will be launched with a kick-off on 6 October 2022. With a wide range of activities organised to bring coding into the classroom, this year’s Code Week will take place from 8 to 23 October 2022.

Organize a coding event in Switzerland and add your activity to the activities map, here: https://codeweek.eu/. Take part in the Kick-Off Meeting on 6 October 2022: https://fb.me/e/39uXbENqr. To learn more: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/anniversary-edition-eu-code-week-marks-10-years-bringing-coding-classrooms-across-europe-and-beyond.

Join the first Generation Equality Accountability Moment at UNGA 77

From UN Women:

23 September from 1:15 – 3:00pm EDT There will be a dedicated moment highlighting progress towards the Generation Equality agenda. The event, taking place on the side-lines of this year’s 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77), will be an important moment to reflect on one year of accountability and progress on the Generation Equality journey and to announce key developments, such as the membership of the Multi-Stakeholder Leadership Group.  

What: Generation Equality Accountability Moment at UNGA 77 
When: 23 September, 1:15 – 3:00pm EDT  

Register here: https://generationequality.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c7919f7997d82f8ddc1224ee1&id=c8e6b3fcbd&e=c7782b1b50

 

Girls and Women aged 14+ : Sign up for our free Django Girls workshop 22-23 October and Celebrate Code Week with Us!

Make your first website!

RightsTech Women and partners offer girls and women aged 14 and older the opportunity to learn to build their own website with the help of coaches from our partner organizations, CERN Women in Technology and CERN Micro Club. Find out more and how to register for this free, two-day workshop taking place in the framework of Europe CODEWEEK: https://rightstech.org/girls-and-women-14-sign-up-for-our-django-girls-workshop-22-23-october-2022-geneva/.

Register to participate in Generation Equality follow-up meeting for Europe and Central Asia region, on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality, 4 July 2022 (online)

Date: 4 July 2022

Time: 10.00 – 12.40 AM Istanbul / 09.00 – 11.40 AM CET

Language: English/Russian (simultaneous translation)

Registration link: https://unwomen.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtd-Cprz4iHtcvcqhQQvWbNPGM9bKpVSHi

RightsTech Women (RTW) has been invited to moderate one of the practical sessions during a 4 July 2022 follow-up meeting for the Europe and Central Asia region looking at commitments made on gender equality in Tech and Innovation, and related implementation progress and challenges, in the framework of the Generation Equality Forum and its follow up. The half-day ECA meeting starts at 9:00 CET (please check your local time zone). Read more: https://rightstech.org/europe-central-asia-follow-up-meeting-on-generation-equality-tech-and-innovation-coalition/.

RightsTech Women Picks Up Its Prize and Helps to Mainstream Gender in ICTs During WSIS Forum Final Week (30 May – 3 June, ITU Headquarters, Geneva) – read more

RightsTech Women Welcomes New Board Members, President, and Executive Director

New Perspectives and New Operational Phase

RightsTech Women is pleased to welcome to its board two new board members, Arwa Al-Fakih and Magda Bunkowska. Stepping into the role of board President is Alexandra Schafhauser. Founder Ellen Walker is moving to an operational staff role of Executive Director. RightsTech Women is taking a new step, moving forward from a startup phase to a more operational, growth phase. Read more: https://rightstech.org/press-releases-2022-rightstech-women-welcomes-new-board-members/

RightsTech Women and Partners Offer Training for Girls 14+ and Women During WSIS Forum 2022

How can girls and women use satellite data to understand climate change in their communities? Join RightsTech Women and partners for a free online training for girls aged 14 and older and women exploring this question. No experience is necessary! 🙂

Invite your friends to learn how to use satellite data to understand climate change in two steps:

1. Fill out the form to become part of the ITU WSIS Process’ Repository of Women in Tech at : https://itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Surveys/Surveys/Submit/16262207499546074

2. Register to the training session here: https://rtw-wsis-training.eventbrite.ch

Read more by visiting the link, http://rightstech.org/rightstech-women-and-partners-offer-training-for-girls-14-and-women-during-wsis-forum-2022/.

 

 

 

 

 

Featured speaker: Florentia Protopsalti, Women in Technology at CERN

UPDATE: Check out the livestreamed event: https://www.facebook.com/RightsTechWomen/posts/1404167830059163

RightsTech Women and partners: trainings on analyzing satellite data to understand climate change

RightsTech Women and partners organized a free, online training in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2022. This followed an in-person version of the event we organized in Geneva, Switzerland on 11 December 2021. In the training, girls aged 14 and older and women from seven countries gained an introduction to using Google Earth Engine to investigate their own questions about climate change. Find out more about the training in this video.

 

WSIS TalkX celebrating International Women’s Day, 8 March, 14:00 – 15:00 CET.

The theme of the 2022 International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. In this panel, speakers will discuss the importance of women’s contribution to sustainable development, highlighting innovative ideas and solutions and the importance of diversity in decision-making.

Join this distinguished panel discuss various aspects of gender equality for sustainable development, ask questions in Q&A and Chat, and benefit from the insights!

Agenda: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2022/Agenda/Session/125

Registration link: https://itu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Yry4F-kkS9OWQVCLVHiUcw

Happy International Women’s Day!

 

WSIS TalkX: International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Uniting efforts towards equal and inclusive future, 11 Feb. 2022

Women in Technology: Sign up to be a speaker, mentor or more at ITU’s WSIS Stocktaking Repository of Women in Technology

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU), based in Geneva, Switzerland, has launched the ‘WSIS Stocktaking Repository of Women in Technology’.

 Video: WSIS Process (ITU)

Read more about it and how to sign up, by visiting: https://rightstech.org/call-for-applications-wsis-stocktaking-repository-of-women-in-technology/.

International Women in Science Day, 11 February 2022: RightsTech Women and partners organize online training for girls and women

In celebration of International Women in Science Day, RightsTech Women and partners are organizing our second Cloud to Classroom training for girls and women (14+). This training will take place online. It promises to be a fun event in which girls and women can learn about remote sensing, processing satellite data, and how to use Google Earth Engine to investigate their own questions about climate change.

Read more: https://rightstech.org/international-women-in-science-day-11-february-2022-rightstech-women-offers-online-cloud-to-classroom-workshop/

Happy Holidays!

RightsTech Women warmly wishes everyone a safe and healthy end to 2021 and great things to come in 2022. Thank you to our partners and volunteers this year who have supported and amplified our efforts. See you in 2022!

50/50 by 2030 Campaign

Did you know that RightsTech Women is working for equal representation of women in STEM by 2030? If you’re thinking that’s not a lot of time, you’re right! It’s going to take a lot of work, by a lot of people. Can you help us reach more girls and women next year with our innovative trainings? We work with girls and women usually starting from age 10 and continuing through lifelong learning. We provide capacity building in STEM together with human rights education.

To support our work, visit https://rightstech.org/donate and make a contribution. Donations of any size will help us reach more girls and women. Thank you, if you can help us grow our impact.

Cloud to Classroom: RightsTech Women and Partners Introduce Girls and Women to Using Google Earth Engine to Analyze Climate Change

On Saturday, 11 December 2021, RightsTech Women and partners trained girls and women aged 14+ in Geneva, Switzerland on basic principles of remote sensing and gave them an introduction to using Google Earth Engine. Girls and women wrote their own code to process satellite imagery and explored datasets to look at issues like forest loss. Read more: http://rightstech.org/cloud-to-classroom-changing-planet-workshop/.

Geneva residents: Register for your COVID-19 vaccination booster shot today

Girls and Women (14 years+): Join NASA Researcher, Liza Goldberg, RightsTech Women, and Partners for two ‘Cloud to Classroom Workshops’ in Geneva on 11 Dec. 2021

RightsTech Women. Liza Goldberg, and our partners are organizing two workshops for girls and women aged 14 and older to take place in Geneva (in person) on Saturday, 11 Dec. 2021. We will give two ‘Cloud to Classroom’ workshops in which we will introduce girls and women aged 14 and older to how to apply pictures of Earth taken from space in understanding climate change in your local area and around the world. Participants will get an overview of using satellite imagery analysis and its many practical uses in today’s jobs. Read more: https://rightstech.org/cloud-to-classroom-changing-planet-workshops-for-girls-and-women-14-years-saturday-11-december-2021-geneva/. Registration is open! Limited seats available.

RightsTech Women meets Women @ Facebook, Google & Ebay as well as fellow STEM NGOs, at TechPeerCircle webinar

15 July 2021

RightsTech Women’s founder, Ellen Walker, and board member, Brice Copy, had the pleasure to take part in a webinar organized by TechPeerCircle, a joint initiative of Women @ Facebook, Google and Ebay Zurich. The meeting brought together Kona Connect, which is a chatbot using AI to assist domestic violence survivors; Capacity Zurich, an NGO providing entrepreneurship and job market support to refugee and migrant women; and, RightsTech Women, which (in case you do not know us yet), advances the human rights of girls and women in STEM. Thanks to this event, women from all of these groups had the chance to meet, exchange about their initiatives and to learn more about each other. The meeting brought together women and men from these organizations who share an interest in gender equality. It provided an opportunity to discuss potential collaboration. A great event – it was a pleasure to take part and we look forward to next steps. Thanks, TechPeerCircle !

Meet Women at CERN, Saturday, 10 July 2021, 11-12:00

Special attention, girls and women: Meet Women at CERN at this event open to the public tomorrow, Saturday 10 July from 11:00-12:00 CEST. There, you can hear from four women about their career paths that led them to CERN.

For more info and to register: https://indico.cern.ch/event/1052461/.  

#CERN #career #diversity #WomenInSTEM

RightsTech Women commits at historic Generation Equality Forum

RightsTech Women is participating at the Paris Generation Equality Forum which brings together stakeholders working for gender equality from around the world. The Forum is taking place from 30 June – 2 July 2021 in Paris and virtually. Registration remains open during the Forum.

RightsTech Women makes a commitment itself in Action Coalition 5, Technology and Innovation: to train girls and women in STEM and human rights in 33 countries, to create lasting impact by building educators’ capacity in awareness of the human rights of girls and women in STEM, to conduct research, and to do UN advocacy and human rights education on the human rights of girls and women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). While there are many efforts to advance girls and women in STEM, so far, we are mostly missing the link to connect this global problem with the relevant human rights at stake. RightsTech Women fills this gap and builds a bridge between STEM and human rights. Today’s global problems, as powerfully articulated by the opening speakers on Day 1 of the Forum, demonstrate just how needed this bridge is.

On the opening day, leaders and activists from around the world gathered and listened to girls and women share their perspectives and vision for equality. More than 40 billion USD was committed to achieving gender equality, coming from governments, foundations and the private sector.

The Forum gathers people working for gender equality across a range of issues, including technology and innovation for gender equality. Interested organizations can make commitments and join Action Coalitions on gender equality issues.

The event was co-created by UN Women along with external organizers of the different panels who proposed their panels, and is led by the governments of France and Mexico. The Paris Forum follows the March forum held earlier this year in Mexico. Coming up in the next days are many panels across a range of gender issues organized in themes and spread over the event to break down silos. Here are some of the many interesting events coming up:

1 July 2021

• 12:30 – 1:30 pm /Room Le Marais : Data as a Tool for Feminist Voice and Accountability
  
• 1:40 – 2:25 pm /Room Belleville: Girls’ Education: A Critical Pathway to Gender Equality
  
• 2:10 – 3:10 pm /Room Le Marai: Public Development Banks Commit for Gender Equality
  
• 3:00 – 5:00 pm /Room Le Marais : Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality Action Coalition
  
• 3:00 – 3:45 pm /Room Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Launch of the Global Partner Network for Feminist Foreign Policy
• 5:30 – 6:30 pm /Room Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Funding and supporting Feminist Movements
  

2 July 2021

• 10:10 – 10:55 am /Room République: Feminist Ally Coalitions at the United Nations
  
• 10:30 – 11:15 am /Room Le Marais: Africa Accelerator for Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion
• 11:00 – 11:45 am /Room Saint-Germain-des-Prés: New Advocacy and Communication Strategies for Gender Equality
  
• 11:20 am – 12:05 pm / Room Belleville: Gender Stereotypes in Technology Recruitment: impact on Young People
  
• 11:40 am – 12:25 pm /Room Montmartre: Advancing Gender Equality by Countering the Extremists Manifesto
• 2:00 – 2:45 pm /Room Montmartre : System Reboot: Smashing Silos to Reclaim Tech for Good
  
• 3:00 – 4:00 pm /Room Saint-Germain-des-Prés: Philanthropic Organizations and Foundations Financing Gender Equality
  
• 4:00 – 4:45 pm /Room République: Promoting Feminist and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence
  
• 4:30 – 5:15 pm /Room Montmartre: Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Justice: Structural Strategies and Accountability
• 4:30 – 6:30 pm /Bastille Room: Feminist Movements and Leadership Action Coalition
• 5:10 – 5:55 pm /Room République: Disrupting Global Anti-Rights Strategies

As part of its advocacy, RightsTech Women also encourages other stakeholders including governments and employers to make commitments, in order to reach gender equitable solutions for girls and women in STEM by 2030.

To register for the Forum: https://forumgenerationegalite.fr/en/get-involved/register

With regard to women’s leadership and participation in public life, it has occurred to RightsTech Women that the first female United Nations Secretary-General could be in attendance at the Generation Equality Forum, where we are all hearing from female heads of State and female leaders of UN entities. We hope so. What do you think?

Follow us on Twitter where we are sharing more information about the Forum: @RightsTech Women.

See you at the Forum.

• #GenerationEqualityForum
• @ForumEgaliteFR
• @UNWomen

RightsTech Women’s 2020 Activity Report

Read about RTW’s impact and year in 2020: https://rightstech.org/2021/06/25/rightstech-women-2020-activity-report/.

Webinar report: Leading women in tech and finance discuss how to bring this pandemic’s lessons forward

24 June 2021

RightsTech Women had the pleasure to attend a timely and inspiring webinar, Top Women in Tech and Financial Services: Reshaping the Future of Work. The speakers discussed some of the biggest lessons learned so far in the COVID-19 pandemic work environment for women in tech and finance with regard to: access to employment, promotion, employee retention, hybrid work, leadership and more. Read more about it: https://lnkd.in/g3jrUTG.
#financialservices #futureofwork #WomenInSTEM #ServiceNow #WellsFargo #Mastercard #StateFarm #NguyenCoffeeSupply

Watch the International Telecommunications Union’s 2021 WSIS Prizes ceremonies

19 May 2021

On 19 May 2021, RightsTech Women’s innovative project, Robotics, Programming and Rights for Girls, was honored as a Champion in Category 1 at the 2021 WSIS Prizes of the International Telecommunications Union. The WSIS Prizes are awarded during the forum of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Category 1 of the WSIS Prizes is the role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs (information and communications technology) for development.

You can watch the awards sessions here:

• WSIS Prizes 2021 Winner Ceremony: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2021/Agenda/Session/348 (18 May 2021)
• WSIS Prizes 2021 Champion Presentation: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2021/Agenda/Session/441 (19 May 2021)
  
• Ellen Walker thanks the WSIS Prizes voters, RTW partners, team and volunteers: https://youtu.be/wEwb09cQPHA
• Highlights and outcomes of the WSIS Forum 2021: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2021/Home/Outcomes
• WSIS Process YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGI574UJHQk&list=PLh5wUIxznUUUlc57A7lZWBwuzfC7l-81m 

#WSIS #WSISProcess #WSISPrizes2021 #ITU

RightsTech Women at EU Code Week Teach Day, 22 May 2021

RightsTech Women gave a workshop to teachers from around the world, and spoke in a panel on diversity and coding, during EU Code Week’s inaugural Teach Day on 22 May 2021. For the full story, click here: https://wordpress.com/post/rightstech.org/3388.

 

Save the Date: RightsTech Women to train teachers on Python and Women in Science!, #TeachDay 22 May 2021 12:00-12:45 CEST

RightsTech Women will train teachers from around the world on the activity, Learn Python and about Women in Science! as part of EU Code Week’s Teach Day on 22 May 2021. The event will take place online. More details and links forthcoming soon.

#CodeWeek

#TeachDay

 

RightsTech Women (RTW) recognized as a Champion in the ITU’s global 2021 WSIS Prizes – Category 1

RightsTech Women (RTW) has just been recognized as a global 2021 WSIS Prizes Champion in Category 1 of the Prizes, taking place in the WSIS Process of the International Telecommunication Union. Our project, Robotics, Programming and Rights for Girls is honored as one of the five initiatives from around the world recognized as Champions this year in Category 1 — AL C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development.

You are invited to participate in the Winners’ and Champions’ Ceremonies during the final week of the WSIS Forum 2021 (17 – 21 May).

Register for the WSIS Prizes 2021 Winners Ceremony on 18 May at 12:00-14:00 CEST, where all Champions will also be recognized and Winners will be announced, using the following link:

https://itu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_df5TAMg-SmahmMsV-8cS-w.

Register for the WSIS Prizes 2021 Champions Ceremony, Wednesday, 19 May, at 12:00-14:00 CEST, here:

https://itu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aw8hQ7tWSGKeYr8PHB0m_g

RightsTech Women is an international NGO based in Geneva, Switzerland, that advances the human rights of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Congratulations to RTW’s dedicated board, volunteers and partners, and many thanks to those who nominated and voted for RightsTech Women. RTW warmly congratulates all of the 2021 WSIS Prizes Finalists and Champions.

Read more about all of the Champions in the 2021 WSIS Prizes here: https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Prizes/2021/Champions and more about RightsTech Women here: https://rightstech.org.

#innovation #prizes #awards #femalefounders #award #thankyou #teamwork #WomenInSTEM #geneva
cc:
Ville de Genève
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

 

Celebrate Girls in ICT Day with a High-Level Panel of ITU and partners on 22 April 2021, 16-17h30 CEST

Take part in the celebrations of Girls in ICT Day of the International Telecommunications Union by participating in this high-level panel, “Girls in ICT 10th Anniversary”, a virtual event taking place on 22 April 2021 from 16h00-17h30 pm CEST. (‘ICT’ stands for ‘information and communications technology’.) The panel is organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) with support from Generation Equality. Hear from and exchange with 19 speakers from different organizations, as participants consider issues raised in the blueprint of the Action Coalition on Innovation and Technology  for Gender Equality of the Generation Equality Forum.

Questions to be covered include:

• How can we ensure inclusive, equal access and use of ICTs for girls?
• What types of partnerships or global cooperation efforts must be developed/scaled?
• What  concrete measures  need to be taken therein?

To register for this free event: https://www.itu.int/women-and-girls/girls-in-ict/international-girls-in-ict-day-2021/.

Join the conversation with hashtag #girlsinict .

Happy Girls in ICT Day 2021! Normally celebrated on a single day in April, in this year 2021, it is a year-long celebration so do not hesitate to organize your own #girlsinict event in 2021. Every day is a #girlsinict day!

 

RightsTech Women Nominated in ITU’s 2021 global WSIS Prizes

RightsTech Women has been nominated in the global WSIS Prizes 2021, during the World Summit on the Information Society or WSIS Process of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union. RTW is nominated in Category 1 of the Prizes, in the company of an impressive array of global projects, for example, governments putting their services online as a result of COVID19. RTW is thrilled that our global STEM gender equality work is so honored and at the amount of support that this shows for the goal of achieving STEM gender equality by 2030. Many thanks to those who nominated and voted for us!

Voting takes place online until 31 March 2021. Find out about all of the nominated initiatives and vote here (registration required): https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Prizes/2021/. #WSIS #genderequality #SDG5

RightsTech Women named as a Finalist in ITU Equals Awards 2020

Time to celebrate! RightsTech Women has been recognized as a Finalist by the International Telecommunications Union’s Equals Awards, in the ‘Leadership in Tech’ category. We’re so grateful. Winners will be announced during the Internet Governance Forum on November 6th 2020, at a virtual ceremony.

Happy Friday!

EU Code Week 2020: Online Event for Teachers 23 October 2020, 12:00-12:30

RightsTech Women is organizing a free, online event for teachers from 12:00-12:30 on 23 October 2020. The event will present a fun learning activity that teachers of any subject can do with their students to practice learning programming in the Python language, and, to find out about more about famous women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more.

EU Code Week 2020 Switzerland

EU Code Week is taking place from 10-25 October 2020. Find out all about it and how parents and teachers – regardless of level of programming experience – can organize activities until 23 December 2020 in order to take part.

RightsTech Women has made a gender survey for activity leaders in Switzerland to fill out so we can learn more about how many girls participate out of all participants in Switzerland this year. Read more.

Happy coding!

#CodeWeek

RightsTech Women is on GoFundMe!

RightsTech Women has now officially launched its GoFundMe campaign. Find out more about our work, meet the team, and get involved by donating and sharing our campaign. No donation is too small. Here’s the link for donating and sharing:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/train-girls-for-stem-careers. If you donate, feel free to drop us a comment on our campaign page to let us know why it’s important to you, too. https://www.gofundme.com/f/train-girls-for-stem-careers.

Thank you to our partners in 2019: You helped us reach 400+ girls in Geneva

In 2019, RightsTech Women trained more than 400 girls in the Geneva area on robotics, programming and human rights. Working with our great partners, we were able to introduce girls to programming and robotics using the Poppy Ergo Jr. robot. We also gave the participants training on their human rights, focusing on the right to education, including the right to learn science, technology, engineering and math. Today, it’s important, because a lot of jobs now and in the future will need STEM skills.

A huge thanks to our partners in 2019:

• CERN
• CERN Micro Club
• CERN Women in Technology
• DBI Services
• DYN SA Accounting
• Elargis Tes Horizons
• EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva
• FidOlea SA Fiduciary
• HEPIA/Hes/GE
• Informasciences
• Onl’fait
• OPI – Office for the Promotion of Industries and Technologies
• PoppyStation
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Think Tank Hub
• Ville de Genève

RTW thanks you for your collaboration in introducing girls in Geneva to robotics, programming and to their rights to learn and do science.

Geneva, 22-24 November 2019

RTW took part in Codez la Science with partners Cern Micro Club and others, training girls and boys to program robots at the CERN Globe, Hepia and at the University of Geneva math and IT complex, in their maker space. RTW and our coaches had a great time showing learners how to assemble robots first, and then program them. Busy days! And lots of fun. We also gave learners a presentation on their human rights, teaching boys and girls about the right to education.

Geneva, 16 November 2019

On 16 November, we took part in Elargis tes horizons / Expanding Your Horizons, at Uni-Mail, University of Geneva. This day-long event takes place once every two years. There were 450 registered participants who could choose from an impressive variety of workshops and stands.

RightsTech Women provided hands-on robotics and programming training, along with a brief introduction to girls’ human rights in STEM education and employment. We trained about 75 girls in French and English throughout the course of the day at our stand and we also had some ‘repeat customers’ who had so much fun that they came back to program with us some more. Our own ’dream team’ of four RightsTech Women volunteers made the day absolutely great.

Warsaw, 14 November 2019

On 13-14 November, RighsTech Women took part in Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit in Warsaw, the biggest conference for women in technology in Europe. We were invited to the panel discussion, presented RTW’s work and answered the following questions:

• How the tech community can get involved in projects with global impact?
• Hackathons, jam sessions, on-line challenges what’s in there for planet and people?
• How tech communities can create value with a long-term impact on the ecosystem?
• Can startups make profits and be socially responsible?

Geneva, 5 October 2019

EU Code Week 2019: Robotics, Programming and Rights for Girls at Hepia

On Saturday, 5 October 2019, with the support of HEPIA, the associations RightsTech Women, CERN Micro Club, CERN Women in Technology and Informasciences organized workshops to familiarise girls in the Geneva area with new technologies. The workshops took place at HEPIA and provided the participants with further opportunities for discovering more science and technology. For more information and to see the schedule, visit https://rightstech.org/robotics-girls-2019/.

Geneva, 26 June 2019

On June, 26 RTW visited the ATLAS experiment at CERN which is designed to explore the secrets of the universe. The visit was organized by Women in Tech at CERN with whom RTW has co-organized programming and robotics workshops and Girls in ICT Day at CERN. Visiting ATLAS was a great opportunity to learn more about Physics and to exchange with a fantastic group of female physicists and engineers working at CERN.

Geneva, 20 June 2019

On 20 June, Ellen Walker, founder of RTW, spoke on a panel discussion in Geneva about the challenges of digital transformation, the future of work in the era of robotics and automation, and the limits of digital. The discussion was organised by Industrie-Genève and its partners OPI (Office de Promotion des Industries et des Technologies
), UIG (Union Industrielle Genevoise), CCiG (Chambre de commerce, d’industrie et des services de Genève), Operateur Urbain and Republique et Canton de Genève). The discussion was moderated by Fanny Randanne from OPI and took place during the EPHJ-EPMT-SMT event at Palexpo in Geneva, which is the largest international trade show dedicated to high precision, med-tech, and watchmaking innovation.

Together with other panelists such as Hélène Gache, Executive Director of Teamlog, Isabelle Harsch, CEO of Harsch, Fabienne Lupo, president of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), and Samira MARQUIS, founder of makers id; Ellen Walker  answered the questions and presented the work of RTW and highlighted the importance of gender equality and human rights education in digital and tech in Switzerland. In addition, she shared the Swiss statistic. The panel was followed by a comment from Mr. Pierre Maudet, Conseiller d’Etat.

RTW was also invited by OPI (Office de Promotion des Industries et des Technologies
) to be present on Tuesday, 18 June at the Geneva Innovation stand. We took the chance to present our work and to talk to the local partners such as IFAGE, Hepia, and Geneva Creativity Center.

Girls in ICT Day at CERN

Geneva, 25 April 2019

On 25 April 2019, RightsTech Women celebrated the International Telecommunications Union’s Girls in ICT Day by collaborating with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) to organize robotics and programming workshops for girls. The event took place at the CERN Globe of Science and Innovation from 9 am to 4 pm and attracted around 100 girl participants aged from 6 to 14.

(Poster credit: CERN)

The day started off with a presentation from RTW to girls and parents on its work and on the many opportunities now available to women and girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), including the growing numbers of jobs.

The day continued with four workshops on robotics and computing, led by a team of mostly female coaches from RTW, CERN Women in Technology, and other CERN staff. The trainings used Poppy Ergo Jr. educational robots and SNAP programming.

For more information, see the full story.

Coffee and Robots at WMO

Geneva, 4 April 2019

On 26 March 2019, RightsTech Women, which has as its mission to advance the human rights of women and girls in STEM, held two presentations at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to introduce its organization and activities & to exchange with WMO staff. WMO staff members, the EU representation to the UN, as well as representatives from permanent missions and NGOs in Geneva participated during the day.

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Celebrating International Women’s day 2019: A day of workshops for girls on robotics, programming and human rights.

Geneva, 9 March 2019

On Saturday, 9 March 2019, over 80 enthusiastic girls aged 6-18 gathered at HEPIA in Geneva for some hands-on workshops on human rights, robotics, and programming.

With support of the City of Geneva and as part of their Equality Week (celebrating International Women’s Day), RightsTech Women co-organized these workshops with partners HEPIA, CERN Micro Club, CERN Women in Technology, CERN Staff Association, On l’Fait and Informascience. HEPIA held an Open Day for the public on the same day, and the girls and their parents were invited to learn more about studying at HEPIA.

Photo Credit: Stéphanie Monay, Ville de Genève

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Celebrating International Women’s day 2019: Taking part in a panel discussion

On 8 March, RightsTech Women took part in a celebration of International Women’s Day, together with over 70 women professionals in Geneva.

Our founder, Ellen Walker, was invited to the panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for women in tech and digital in Switzerland.

Check the official video from the event and listen to her thoughts about how human rights can enable more girls to choose a career in digital and tech-related fields: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBqTpExyImo

 

71st session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

UN Geneva, 22 October 2018

On Monday, 22 October 2018, RightsTech Women attended a meeting of the 71st session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Nepal, Republic of the Congo, The Bahamas, and Samoa presented to the Committee on the human rights situation in their countries.

CEDAW evaluates the progress of countries who are Parties to the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (also abbreviated as CEDAW) as those countries work to eliminate discrimination against women by implementing the obligations in that treaty. During its regular sessions, the Committee meets with NGOs, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), and government officials in an effort to understand progress of a State in this critical area. After the different stakeholders have been heard, the Committee issues a report on its findings that includes concluding observations for improvement. These are like recommendations. This process is usually repeated every four years.

Currently, 189 countries are Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which lists the rights of women and the responsibilities of their countries in ensuring those rights. The countries that have not done so are the Holy See, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Niue, Palau, Somalia, Sudan, Tonga, and United States of America.

To learn more about the CEDAW reporting process and how your NGO can share with the Committee its own findings about implementation of the Convention in countries that are States Parties to the Convention, visit:
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/CEDAW/pages/cedawindex.aspx.

To know more about what’s happening during the 71st session, use the hashtag #CEDAW71 and follow @UNHumanRights on Twitter.

RightsTech Women in l’AGEFI Suisse

Geneva, 16 October 2018

Changing the low percentage of women in STEM fields is not an easy task, but at RightsTech Women we know it is possible. We have shared our vision and recommendations with AGEFI Suisse, focusing on early exposure, various forms of encouragement and female role models are crucial to attracting more girls and women to STEM.

General discussion on a draft general comment on article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

UN Geneva, 9 October 2018

On 9 October RightsTech Women took part in a general discussion on a draft general comment on article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) at the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Prachi Bhave, RTW’s Research Officer, delivered a presentation about the situation of women in STEM globally, including women in STEM education, women in workforce and girls in education. She has shared several recommendations to achieve gender parity in all levels of STEM education and employment. Ellen Walker, RTW Founder, made an oral statement for Panel 1: Normative contents, with additional analysis and recommendations.

We believe that ​a General Comment on article 15 should include the human rights of women and girls in STEM​.

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Include the human rights of women and girls in STEM in the General Comment.
2. Increase international cooperation in science to decrease inequalities among peoples and nations, while building human rights infrastructure.
3. Ensure that the development of science and human rights education go hand in hand, and that each keep pace with each other.
4. Increase international cooperation to ensure women and girls’ equal enjoyment of article 15, in particular, with regard to education, employment, research positions, equal pay, and equity stakes.
5. Implement targeted measures to eliminate discrimination against women in STEM and share good practices in equitable article 15 implementation for women and girls.

Robots, rights and programming for girls

Hepia Genève, 6 October 2018

On 6 October, a sunny Saturday in Geneva, more than 50 girls met at HEPIA to participate in a workshop on robotics and programming for girls. The workshop, a cooperation between HEPIA, Cern MicroClub, Fab Lab On’l’fait and RightsTech Women, offered a chance for girls from 10-18 years old not only to learn how to program the robot, Poppy Ergo Jr., and the hepiaLight programmable touch screen, but also to learn about their human rights related to education. The four partner organizations were eager to join up and explore the relationship between programming, robotics and human rights.

The Swiss NGO, RightsTech Women, based in Geneva since June 2018, focuses on this combination of women and girls, human rights, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Ellen Walker, the founder of RightsTech Women, explains why they have chosen this particular focus. “Women are under-represented in STEM tertiary education and jobs around the world, and also in Switzerland. We are working for increased female participation in STEM at all levels by equipping girls and women with knowledge about their rights, and by sharing stories of female role models. We were happy to work together with HEPIA and CERN MicroClub on this great event. We hope to have many more events like this in future.”

The programming part of the workshop was given by Brice Copy, a representative from CERN Micro-Club and Adrien Lescourt from HEPIA, with the assistance of several volunteer coaches. The day included 2 introduction sessions on the right to education, 2 robotics workshops, and one hepiaLight workshop.

RightsTech Women gives a talk at Geek Girls Carrots Meet-Up, Geneva

SDG Solution Space, Geneva, 12 September 2018

RTW founder, Ellen Walker, gave a talk about human rights in STEM at Geek Girls Carrots Switzerland in Geneva, a meetup focused on attracting women to tech. Other team members were also present and we were glad to have the opportunity to meet like-minded women and men and to take part in exciting discussions.

RightsTech Women at Values of Internet Technologies

Human Rights and present / future ICT ‒ Why and how are they related? was a workshop organized by Internet Society Switzerland as a part of Values of Internet Technologies series. Ellen Walker, the founder of RightsTech Women, explained what are Human Rights and how did they emerge. We’ve enjoyed all the presentations and an insightful panel discussion.