IAEA Board of Governors Meeting
Agenda Item 15: Any other business
10 June 2022
Group of Friends of Women in Nuclear Statement
Thank you Chair,
Spain has the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends of Women in Nuclear, a group whose 37 Member States, from all eight regional groups, are united in our commitment to gender equality and gender parity in the nuclear field and in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Group is pleased to note that the Agency is making steady progress and is on track to achieve its goal of reaching gender parity by 2025 under DG Grossi’s leadership. We celebrate that recently the Agency has reached the important milestone of 40 % in the professional and higher categories, and 49 % of all regular staff members.
Chair
We take note with appreciation that, in line with the Agency' Gender Equality Policy, all its Departments are seeking to strengthen efforts to promote gender parity and gender mainstreaming, as requested by member states at the PBC and in the framework of the Medium-Term Strategy process.
In this regard, we welcome the recent publication of the Safeguards Implementation Report, the Nuclear Security Report, and the Technical Cooperation Report, which all include detailed information about the participation of women in the activities of the Agency.
The Group celebrates the creation of the Women in Nuclear Security Initiative (WINSI), within the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security, and the impact that it has on the Agency’s gender equality goal and on the role of women in the nuclear security community.
Chair,
The Group likewise appreciates the efforts and progress of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme to attract more women to scientific careers, especially young women.
The Group welcomes the fact that the Agency is also involving students from MCSFP in various events and partnerships in the field of nuclear energy and creating a fellowship alumni network to build networks and create synergies between young fellows and other institutions.
We encourage the Agency to keep promoting this Programme to support more women and girls to engage in the nuclear field.
Chair,
We congratulate the strong partnership established between the IAEA Secretariat and Women in Nuclear chapters. This partnership is key to accelerate recruitment and ensure retention in nuclear careers both at the IAEA and in nuclear industry and research institutions around the world.
Chair,
The Group recognizes the need to achieve gender equality and progress the empowerment of women, especially in science and technology. Achieving gender equality is required for a better and fairer functioning of the Agency. By providing equitable opportunities and enabling environments through which women and girls can reach their highest capabilities and fully contribute, we will achieve our shared goals in a sustainable and just world.
In this regard, we encourage the Agency to continue to build a flexible, inclusive workplace, with a diverse workforce. Addressing unconscious bias as well as preventing and responding to sexual harassment and abuse will help build trust, support safety and allow all employees to reach their full potential.
Finally, we invite delegations who share our vision on gender equality to join the Group of Friends for Women in Nuclear. If you would like to join, please make your interest known to co-chairs Mexico or Spain.
Thank you, Chair.