At Dubai Women’s Forum, Turkish first lady calls for gender inclusion in technology

By Yildiz Nevin Kasim

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AA) - Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan on Tuesday called for greater inclusion of women in technology, saying that “technologies where women are not involved in design and production processes cannot lead us to a better future.”

Addressing the two-day Global Women's Forum Dubai, Erdogan called the UAE one of the world’s major cultural crossroads and highlighted the diversity of traditions, beliefs, and ideologies represented at the forum.

“Despite all these differences, we are aware of one fact: humanity is sailing together toward a shared future,” Erdogan said.

She underscored the rapid pace of technological advancement, noting that artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries and creating new challenges.

“Research indicates that within three years, two out of every 10 professions will change,” she said. “As we rapidly progress into an uncertain future, the need for a shared roadmap has never been greater.”

Erdogan lamented the underrepresentation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), where global female participation remains around 30%. In AI, the figure drops to 26%, she said.

“Can humanity rise on one wing? Can a single eye perceive such an uncertain future?” she asked. “Women and men are like two halves of a whole – like the wings of a bird. One cannot progress without the other.”

She called for greater efforts to empower women in STEM fields, arguing that inclusive technologies are vital for addressing global inequalities.

Technologies that exclude women cannot correct existing injustices but will only deepen and reproduce them, she said.

- Global inequalities, crises

Turning to global crises, the Turkish first lady cited statistics on hunger and food waste, noting that nearly 1 billion people face hunger while 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually.

She also criticized international silence on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling it a “genocide happening in front of all humanity.” Erdogan said the “double standards” of countries claiming to uphold human rights undermine shared global values.

Saying these contradictions should be reexamined at a time of unprecedented historical progress, she said: “In particular, as our future is being recoded with new technologies, we must mobilize every opportunity we have for a more just future. At this point, I believe that empowering women in STEM fields will have an impact that will completely change their course. Women will be the architects of future societies based on compassion and justice with their ability to think in multiple ways, be sensitive to humanity, and use empathy in decision-making. I believe the Third Dubai Women's Forum will be a common and powerful step towards this future.”

On social media, Erdogan also expressed her satisfaction with the forum, praising it as a “shared and powerful step” toward a brighter future.

“We know that we can only build a fair and sustainable future through the full participation of women,” she wrote.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan