“Boys grow up with role models in every field. Girls need that too” 

Lisa Simrique Singh, UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritius.

Speaking at last Thursday’s roundtable marking International Women’s Day 2025 in Mauritius, UN Resident Coordinator Lisa Simrique Singh called for urgent and collective action to close gender gaps in the digital and ICT sectors. Emphasizing that women empowerment is not only a human rights issue, but also an economic and social necessity, she highlighted the need to address structural barriers, promote early STEM education, and ensure inclusive policies that reflect the realities of a rapidly evolving technological world. 

Last Thursday, Mauritius marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a high-level roundtable discussion under the global theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The event, held at the Octave Wiehe Auditorium at the University of Mauritius, brought together government representatives, industry professionals, academics, and students for an engaging dialogue on empowering women in the digital and ICT sectors.

Organised by the United Nations in Mauritius, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, and the University of Mauritius, the roundtable placed economic empowerment through digital inclusion at the heart of this year’s celebration. The discussion was also livestreamed, allowing broader participation across the country.

In her keynote address, Lisa Simrique Singh, UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritius, noted the significance of this milestone: “This year is very significant. We are marking the 30^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, where a lot of ambitious commitments were made. We have made progress on many things, but there’s still much more to do.”

The UN Resident Coordinator acknowledged Mauritius’ achievements in education and health, which have helped improve its Global Gender Gap Index ranking from 105 to 98 out of 146 countries. However, she warned that gaps remain in political and economic empowerment: “Political empowerment, voice, decision-making and economic empowerment are critical if we really want a world where women empowerment results in economic and socio-cultural resilience.”

She underscored that women continue to face systemic challenges, including violence, discrimination, and socio-economic exclusion – issues compounded by climate change and technological shifts.

With rapid digital transformation reshaping economies, Lisa Simrique Singh highlighted the urgency of equipping women and girls with the skills needed to thrive in science, technology, and innovation: “It’s no longer about academic qualifications. It’s about the skills, competencies and emotional intelligence we need. Science, technology, and innovation play a key role in everything we do.”

She cited an example from a recent visit to a technical training facility: “I saw a garment factory where everything – from the cutting to the finishing – was digitally managed, which means that you need tech skills even to run a garment factory today.”

“It’s no longer about academic qualifications. It’s about the skills, competencies and emotional intelligence we need”

Calling technology an “economic necessity,” she linked inclusive digital transformation to broader national development goals: “Mauritius faces a labour shortage, a low birth rate, and an aging population. The solution lies in expanding the talent pool. Men and women complement each other in the workplace, and that diversity enhances future economic growth.”

She commended the Mauritian Government for incorporating innovation and gender perspectives into its five-year development program, and praised efforts to develop a national AI strategy and gender-responsive monitoring plans. The roundtable, she said, was not just a symbolic gathering, but a strategic moment to generate concrete policy outcomes. “This is a deep dive to really have a strategic discussion that comes out with concrete action plans. It is also a moment to listen to and honour the experiences of prolific women already making a difference in the sector,” Lisa Simrique Singh stated.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritius stressed the importance of early STEM education to tackle entrenched gender norms and stereotypes, explaining that “by secondary school, many girls have already internalised limitations. In China, they’re now rolling out a national program to teach AI to five-year-olds. That’s amazing.”

She also addressed the need for cultural shifts in workplaces to ensure diversity in hiring and promotion: “A new study shows that companies with balanced, high-trust workplaces have a 50% higher chance of outperforming others. It’s a no-brainer.”

As the discussion unfolded, Lisa Simrique Singh called for stronger networks and role models for women in tech:  “Boys grow up with role models in every field. Girls need that too. What we fail to do as women is to sufficiently coalesce,” she explained.

She concluded by thanking the event’s co-organizers — the University of Mauritius, MRIC, the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare — while encouraging young participants to stay engaged. “Students, you are the architects of tomorrow. Innovation drives diversity. And this is not a one-time talk. It’s about turning talk into action. We, at the UN, are committed to walking that path hand in hand with you,” Lisa Simrique Singh said.