Nino Enukidze presented the initiative “500 Women in Tech” implemented by BTU and UN Women Georgia at the 67th UN Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) hosted its sixty-seventh session with an interactive expert panel on the priority theme: “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
Business and Technology University Rector Nino Enukidze was one of the panelists at the conference in New York on March 14. The commission discussed the program “500 Women in Tech”, which has been implemented by BTU and UN Women Georgia with the support of the Government of Norway since 2020.
“500 Women in Tech is a flagship program at Business and Technology University which is implemented with support of UN Women Georgia and the government of Norway.
The project aims at increasing women’s participation in technology, providing free training to 500 women across Georgia. As participants complete their 6 months course, our partner companies, more than 50 already, offer them paid partnerships or full time jobs.
I am proud to say that within the program, not only we involved women from occupied territories of Georgia, where Russia has taken away their freedom of choice, but also, we welcomed 50 refugees from Ukraine, who gained different skills in tech.
Today, the narrative has changed and the need for participation has grown immensely.” - said Nino Enukidze.
Nino Enukidze spoke about equal educational opportunities for women in the digital age in general as well as the situation in Georgian and the program “500 Women in Tech”.
“I am a woman from Georgia. In my country, you will find women who are not afraid to take bold steps. The ones who, despite all obstacles, continue to fight for freedom of their choice. The ones, for whom profession has no gender, and interest has no boundaries. The ones who are not afraid that their roles, rights and duties are predetermined by others. However, we are facing gender based violence, harassment and femicide, unequal pay and glass ceiling, founders gap and lack of access to finance, including venture capital, unpaid domestic work, gender digital divide and many other problems. In Georgia, only 14-15% of girls choose tech as their future career path. Women are a clear minority in the tech industry. Despite such unfavorable context, I strongly believe we can drive positive change in our communities and create impact. I am proud to say that within the program “500 Women in Tech”, not only we involved women from occupied territories of Georgia, where Russia has taken away their freedom of choice, but also, we welcomed 50 refugees from Ukraine, who gained different skills in tech. Today, the narrative has changed and the need for participation has grown immensely,” – said Nino Enukidze.
The program responds to the fourth UN Women's Empowerment Principle developed by the United Nations: supporting women's education, professional training and development.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it was established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.
The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
High-ranking delegates from various nations congregate for the annual UN Commission on the Status of Women session to examine global issues.