H-BRS Equal Opportunity Officer in Commission on the Status of Women at the UN

portraet barbara hillen sta 20230224 foto juri kuestenmacher

The Equal Opportunity Officer of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Dr Barbara Hillen, is taking part in the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 67) of the United Nations in New York City as a representative of civil society. The event, the largest of the United Nations after the UN General Assembly, will take place from 6 to 17 March 2023 around International Women's Day. This year's theme is: "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

Plakat Commission on the Status of Women CSW67 Web-banner-EN copyright UN Women

Poster of the Commission on the Status of Women 2023. Copyright: UN Women

The priority theme of the commission offers a substantive link to the current University Development Plan of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. " In my opinion, universities where people are educated and shaped and where applied technology is developed also have a responsibility to take gender equality aspects into account in teaching, research and transfer," says Hillen. In addition, the university's gender equality concept has envisaged a stronger establishment of gender research since 2018. Since 2022, the consideration of gender aspects has been a selection criterion for many institutions that provide third-party funding. Accordingly, the Equal Opportunity Officer advises researchers on project applications at their request.

The Equal Opportunity Officer also uses her participation in the Commission on the Status of Women for further training, networking and research: What future issues in the fields of action of equality, innovation and technological change are or will be relevant for our university? When asked in what official capacity she is attending the meeting, Hillen replies: "I am going there as a member of UN Women Germany and have been accredited by the German Women's Council."

Highlights for her include attending a UN session on 8 March 2023, International Women's Day, entitled: "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality" and a "Global Women in Music" concert at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in the evening. "I'm just really looking forward to experiencing International Women's Day in New York City, where it all started 115 years ago," says Hillen.

„There is a danger that the balance of power from the analogue world, which is very unequally distributed between the sexes, will be transferred to the digital world - reinforced by AI. This must be resolutely opposed, and everyone is called upon to do so, men as well as women.”

Barbara Hillen - H-BRS Equal Opportunity Officer

Barbara Hillen. Photo: Juri Küstenmacher

Further information on the UN Commission on the Status of Women

At the end of the commission, a recommendation for action is issued, agreed with all member states, but without a legally binding character.
In addition to government delegations from the member states, representatives from civil society and academia take part, contributing their expertise on the one hand and using the opportunity for further training and networking on the other.
During the two weeks around International Women's Day, numerous side events (including lectures, roundtable discussions and workshops) are organised by member states and NGOs. This year, one focus is on the digital transformation and how it presents opportunities and risks for women.