Committee Name: Novice UNESCO

Committee Topic: Promoting Women in STEM

Country Name: China
2016 - Women working in the STEM field are still pressed with economic and social inequality.
In the computer and mathematical field, women are paid 87% of the mens income. Women working in
architecture receive 82% of what males earn. Women fill only 39% of the chemical and the material
engineering workforce - and a mere 7% of the mechanical engineering jobs. Women also lack emotional
support from the world. Many often minimize their potential, intelligence, and expertise in the field. By
not promoting women in careers in science and technology, the world decreases the development of
useful vaccines and medications. We limit the growth of society and its continual dream to better the
world.
The United Nations attempted to help women in STEM fields. In 1979, the UN General
Assembly, by votes of 130 to none, adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) to identify and eliminate all forms of gender discrimination in
the world. Its foundation is within Article 10; women have equal rights with men in the field of
education, especially in technical profession and higher technical education. CEDAW allowed
awareness to society, something that cannot be understated, since societal norms continue to be one of the
greatest obstacles in achieving gender equality. However, CEDAW was fragmentary since the UN failed
to deal with women discrimination in a comprehensive manner. The committee possesses extremely
limited powers to punish violators and faces long overdue reports. The convention relies on state selfreporting, restricting itself of unbiased views from the states. Because of these factors, the committee
continues to limit itself from understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the convention.
Non-governmental Organizations have also made efforts to assist women. The Global Network of
Women ICT Decision-Makers links female students with female information communication technology
professionals. The Global Fund for Women established a Technology Fund aimed to raise over $2 million
for women to receive education in the STEM field. While the NGOs help females with equity, they still
do not provide sufficient resources to establish gender equality in the STEM field.
Ultimately, China believes that the the strive for gender equality in the STEM field faces three
main issues - all stemming from social behaviors. First: states lack awareness that gender inequality
exists. Second: even if they understand that gender discrimination exists, they do not take the issue as
seriously as they should. Third: there is no real punishment for allowing gender discrimination to happen.
If these three issues were to be solved, then establishing economic equality between men and women
would be easier to enact.
China looks to solve these three issues and encourage women in STEM. In fact, it has made
gender equality one of it basic national policies and incorporated the development of women into its
overall plan for economic development. It has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women. Additionally, through the establishment of Article 91 of the 1954
Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China, which states that women are guaranteed equal rights
with men in all areas of political, economical, cultural, social, and domestic life, it brought awareness to
its own nation that gender inequality does exist. China will continue to cooperate with the United nations
but believes that amending the CEDAW is necessary to promote women in STEM.
Sources:
"Short History of CEDAW Convention." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.

"China Publishes Gender Equality White Paper." China Publishes Gender Equality White Paper. N.p.,
24 Aug. 2005. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.
Raday, Frances. "Gender and Democratic Citizenship: The Impact of CEDAW." Gender and
Democratic Citizenship: The Impact of CEDAW. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.
Jones, By Rochelle. "Women's Rights and Organizing in China." AWID. N.p., 24 June 2015. Web. 04
Nov. 2016.
"CEDAW Report--China." UN News Center. UN, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.
Chen, Madelyn. Background Guide Novice UNESCO. 1st ed. 2016. Web. 4 Nov. 2016.