Uplifting Syrian Women

World Science Day for Peace and Development

World Science Day for Peace and Development

World Science Day for Peace and Development is on the 10th of November. A day celebrated annually to contribute to promoting peace and encouraging further academic exchanges on topics of global importance. In addition, raising awareness of the relationship between science and peace among the general public. [1]

World Science Day for Peace and Development

We may be surprised when we think of the fact that science is a tool for peace and development. The quality of knowledge is that it is open, meaning that it is accessible to everyone. There is no set rule for which group should know or learn. The role of science through its academic engagements each year should not be underestimated. This contributes to increasing international understanding and opportunities for collaboration in science applications to promote peace.

Access to science and its benefits is a right of any individual in society, based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations Assembly in Paris in 1948. Article 27 states: “Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to contribute to scientific progress and benefit from its results.” But what needs to be done now is to find easy, safe, and responsible ways to access science. [4]

The Objectives of the World Science Day for Peace and Development and How to Achieve Them

  1. Promote public awareness of the role of science in building peaceful and sustainable societies.
  2. Strengthening the national and international solidarity of inter-country sciences.
  3. Renewing national and international commitments to use science for the benefit of societies.
  4. Draw attention to the challenges science faces in mobilizing support for the scientific endeavor. [2]

It is necessary to integrate different partners to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Starting from governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, reaching to the media and science teachers in schools as a basis to achieve the previous goals, and emphasizing that science is in the service of society.

How Science Can Be a Tool for Peace

Science and technology have an undeniable impact on improving living standards and increasing productivity. And even push the wheel of progress and production toward sustainability. If this progress is achieved in the environments that need it, it eliminates the conflicts that invade it and thus brings peace.

With rapid technological advances in recent years, computers are increasingly prevalent in fields that were previously considered exclusively human. For example:

  1. Artificial intelligence contributes to improving the decision-making process and increasing economic growth. 
  2. Drones can be used to reach disaster and conflict areas.
  3. In addition to genetic techniques that allow the control of biological systems, including the human genome. It opened the door to access customized, precise medicines. Biological technology also helps us agriculturally and leads us to produce varieties of crops that are of high quality and resistant to difficult conditions. [3]

The previous scientific examples all serve the goal of achieving peace and development. It assures us that science is a means to achieve them in the world, so the celebration of this day represents an important contribution to promoting peace.

UNESCO Periodic Report on the Role of Science in Development

The UNESCO Science Report is one of the most important tools available to countries to monitor progress toward the 2030 Agenda. The UNESCO Science Report Series regularly maps science, technology, and innovation worldwide.

UNESCO publishes a science report on science every 5  years. The latest version of it was published in 2021. It is one of the key tools available to countries to monitor progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Agenda. [2]

Our initiative seeks to spread culture, educate, and empower women to build sustainable peace realistically. Because we fully believe that science is a constructive means, not a demolition, and it is our closest savior to ending conflicts and crises and overcoming their consequences.

Also read: United Nations Day.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peacebuilding in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.

References:

[1] UNESCO

[2] UN

[3] UNDOC

[4] UN- Observances