International Day of Women & Girls in Science

Celebrated each year on 11 February since its proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science celebrates the remarkable contributions of women in science and raises awareness that science and gender equality must advance hand-in-hand to address the world’s major challenges.

UNESCO places gender equality at the heart of its mission, recognizing it as a global priority. As women continue to be underrepresented in research worldwide—constituting less than one-third of all researchers—UNESCO calls for greater participation of women in science to drive scientific, technological and innovative progress that is more ethical, inclusive and responsive to societal needs.

From vision to impact: Redefining STEM by closing the gender gap

Today, women continue to represent less than one third of the world's researchers. Closing the gender gap matters not only for fairness, but also for the quality, relevance and impact of science, technology and innovation.

Building on the 2024 UNESCO Call to Action “Closing the Gender Gap in Science” and the 2025 “Imagine a world with more women in science #EveryVoiceInScience” campaign, the 2026 International Day of Women and Girls in Science shifts the focus from recommendations and reflection to showcasing existing good practices and solutions for building more inclusive Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ecosystems.