The international organization AnitaB.org Paula Coto, executive director of Chicas en Tecnología, in the “Agent of Change” category of the "Women in Technology" awards. Abie 2022 awards. The recognition is awarded for her work to reduce the gender gap in Latin America. For being a winner, was invited to participate in the Grace Hopper 2022 Conference, the largest global event for women and non-binary people in the industry., which was held in Orlando. In front of this international community, she presented the work that CET is doing so that young women in the region can be creators of technology with social impact: “It is essential to empower young and gender-diverse women in technology so they can create a positive impact in their communities. It is our responsibility to extend opportunities for all people and build a more equal future and society.”, said Paula Coto upon receiving the award.
AnitaB.org is an international non-profit organization that promotes diversity in technology and works to enable female-identifying and non-binary individuals to develop innovative solutions representative of society. It is present in more than 50 countries and rewards leaders who generate a social and cultural impact in their communities through the integration of women into the technological sphere and who place the issue on the local public agenda. In 1994, the organization created the Grace Hopper Lecture, The 2021 online edition was attended by more than 29,000 people from around the world, 300 speakers and representation from 90 countries.
Gender gap in Latin America
In the region, the pandemic deepened the social and economic crisis and affected women to a greater extent. This population is more vulnerable, has fewer economic resources and has access to informal jobs. Data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) report that the negative impact on employment and precariousness rates represent a setback of more than ten years in the participation of women in the labor market. Chicas en Tecnología works to reach more and more young people from vulnerable sectors. Their training and professional growth in the technological field opens a path of opportunities and access to favorable living and development conditions for them and their communities..
“It is an honor to be part of the largest global community of women in technology. From Chicas en Tecnología we believe that the only way to reduce the gender gap is through comprehensive work together with all the actors that are part of the sector. It is necessary to create alliances and generate a cultural change so that young women in Argentina and Latin America are protagonists in these areas”.”, shared Paula Coto, executive director of Chicas en Tecnología.
