Women and girls deserve the chance to thrive and become leaders in STEM, it is our responsibility to make sure that they have the tools and support they need to do so

This year’s International Women’s Day was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women, and I was delighted to participate in the House of Lords debate marking the occasion last month. Focusing on steps being taken to promote women’s participation and leadership in science and technology, the debate highlighted the vast contributions being made by women and girls in these fields – but also the large amount of work that must still be done to achieve gender parity.

With the talent held across the globe, the UK must be a leader in accelerating action to achieve women’s equality, allowing this talent to truly flourish. At present, this acceleration is simply not happening fast enough, particularly regarding the role that STEM plays in improving women’s lives. The Government must take more informed decisions that do not undermine global efforts to promote the technology that empowers women to make informed choices and become leaders in cutting edge fields such as STEM.

As a Welsh woman, I am extremely proud of the mark that my compatriots have made across the globe. Five years after the First World War, a group of courageous women in Wales embarked on a campaign for peace that would become a symbol of hope and unity. The Welsh women’s peace petition, which began its journey in 1923, was the brainchild of a group of determined women. This petition spanned seven miles in length. It was signed by 390,296 Welsh women and carried across the Atlantic to the United States in an oak chest by four remarkable women: Annie Hughes-Griffiths, Mary Ellis, Elined Prys and Gladys Thomas. Among those signatories was my great-great-grandmother, who was from Neath Port Talbot. It is remarkable to think that, in 2023, 100 years after it was first signed, this petition returned to Wales and was digitised for the world to see at the National Library of Wales.

Welsh women hold a long and distinguished record of engaging on important global causes, and the promotion of women’s participation and leadership in science and technology is no different. This is a truly global issue, and its importance cannot be downplayed. Amidst the significant recent boost to the defence budget, we learned that the international aid budget is set to be reduced by £6 billion a year. This is a troubling shift—one that disproportionately affects women and girls around the world.

We must carefully consider the impact these cuts will have on some of the most pressing challenges that women face globally, including in sexual and reproductive health and rights. When we discuss the rights of women and girls, particularly their sexual and reproductive health, we cannot ignore the role that STEM has played in improving women’s lives. Innovations in these fields have allowed for advances that not only benefit women’s health but provide greater autonomy, allowing women to make informed choices about their reproductive health. The development of contraceptive methods, fertility treatments and safe childbirth procedures has given women more control over their reproductive choices and their futures.

Despite these remarkable advancements, significant challenges remain in many low-income and rural areas across the globe. Access to sexual and reproductive health services is still limited. Cultural stigmas continue to hinder open discussions, and gender disparities in STEM fields restrict the contributions of women in reproductive health research and innovation. To overcome these barriers, we must invest in STEM education for young girls and women, ensuring that their voices and perspectives are represented in the research and innovations that shape reproductive health policies. STEM has already transformed sexual and reproductive health, making it safer, more effective and more accessible. It has given women greater autonomy and allowed for the development of life-saving medications. We must continue to harness this power of STEM to alleviate poverty and contribute to economic and social development globally.

As we see the cuts to the UK’s overseas development assistance budget, I urge the Government to recognise that investing in sexual and reproductive health and rights is not only morally imperative but highly cost effective. Research in these areas has the potential to yield substantial returns—£100 for every pound invested. The ring-fencing of sexual and reproductive health and rights funding within the aid budget must be seriously considered; women and girls across the globe deserve the chance to thrive and become leaders in STEM, it is our responsibility to make sure that they have the tools and support they need to do so.