Take five: “Inclusion of youth, especially young women, in shaping policies and solutions in the digital decade is an important step toward gender equality”

Ms. Helena Valas is Head of the Division of Equal Opportunities within the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia. She moderated the peer learning round table on Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), “The Time is Now: Inclusive, Evidence-Based, and Transformative Solutions for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment,” organized by the UN Women Regional Office in Europe and Central Asia during the 2025 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE region in Geneva. In this interview, Ms. Valas shares how transformative solutions can accelerate gender equality, including promoting women’s participation and empowerment in Slovenia’s digital landscape.

How can inclusive, evidence-based, and transformative solutions accelerate progress towards achieving SDG 5 and gender equality?

Achieving SDG 5 requires a holistic and intersectional approach. Inclusive, evidence-based, and transformative solutions are key to lasting progress. Inclusivity ensures that policies reflect the lived realities of all women and girls, especially those who are often left behind, such as rural women, indigenous communities, and people with disabilities. By centering these voices in decision-making processes, we move toward more equitable and relevant outcomes. Community-led maternal health initiatives, micro-loans, and participatory budgeting are examples where inclusive approaches lead to better service delivery and stronger ownership.

Evidence-based solutions provide the data needed to identify gaps, challenge assumptions, and track progress. Gender-disaggregated data is critical to identifying specific barriers, like the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work or underrepresentation in leadership. Data-driven policies not only improve effectiveness but also strengthen accountability mechanisms.

Transformative solutions address the root causes – not just symptoms – of gender inequality. This includes challenging discriminatory norms and legal frameworks and shifting institutional power dynamics. Transformative change is about systemic reform: enabling women to access and control resources, influence decision-making, and fully exercise their rights.

When inclusivity, evidence, and transformation come together, they create a multiplier effect — driving sustainable, scalable, and just progress.

What role does political determination play in driving meaningful change in gender equality and women’s empowerment?

Political determination is the catalyst for real, lasting change. When leaders prioritize gender equality, it shapes national agendas, drives legal reforms, and ensures that resources are allocated where they are most needed – whether for ending gender-based violence, improving maternal health, or supporting women’s leadership.

It also influences social norms. When governments appoint women to leadership roles or introduce gender quotas, they challenge stereotypes and inspire change across society. Political will ensures accountability – both to international commitments like the SDGs and to the women and girls whose lives those commitments are meant to transform. Without it, progress stalls. 

In Slovenia, political determination has been central to advancing gender equality. When leadership prioritizes this agenda, it doesn’t just shape policies - it reinforces values.

One of Slovenia’s commitments to gender equality is to put in motion targeted interventions to bridge the gender divide through its “Digital Slovenia 2030” strategy. What specific measures are being implemented to promote women’s participation and empowerment in the digital landscape?

​The “Digital Slovenia 2030” strategy incorporates several targeted measures aimed at closing the gender gap and promoting women's participation in the digital space.

Slovenia ranks first among all EU Member States in terms of the share of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) graduates. In 2021, approximately 31.8% of STEM graduates in Slovenia were women, reflecting a slight decrease from 2020. This places Slovenia just below the EU average of 32.8% in 2021. 

​As of the latest data, women accounted for 17% of ICT professionals in Slovenia in 2021, down from 20% in 2019. This is below the EU average of 19% for women employed as ICT specialists in 2023. On the positive side, younger generations of women in Slovenia tend to have stronger digital skills than men.

The credit goes to a strong education system and numerous projects carried out by universities, institutes, non-governmental organizations, and the Digital Innovation Hub of Slovenia, which is, after all, led by a woman.

The “Female Engineer of the Year” award is another important initiative. It aims to inspire young girls to pursue engineering careers by providing role models and showcasing the achievements of Slovenian female engineers. Other initiatives include developing a national strategy to encourage women’s participation in digital fields, establishing a European Girls and Women in ICT Day, encouraging companies to combat gender discrimination at work, and promoting gender-balanced representation on boards and committees that deal with digital matters​.

What are Slovenia’s best practices in the digital transformation process across all sectors? 

Slovenia has taken major steps in its digital transformation across various sectors, supported by strategic planning and innovative initiatives.

The “Digital Slovenia 2030” strategy serves as a roadmap for becoming one of Europe’s leading digital economies. It focuses on several key areas: improving digital skills, expanding digital infrastructure, accelerating digitalization of businesses and public services, and implementing policies to encourage innovation in the digital space. The goal is to position Slovenia among the top five EU countries in terms of digital performance by 2030.

The country has invested significantly in digital public services. eGovernment services - such as eID (electronic identification), eHealth (digital health records), and eVignette (electronic toll system) – have made services more transparent, efficient, and user-friendly for both citizens and businesses.

Slovenia also prioritized the development of digital competencies across all age groups, including reskilling programmes, initiatives to promote women in STEM, and efforts to promote the digital literacy of elderly people.

Finally, ensuring digital security is also an important component of Slovenia’s digital transformation. The country is committed to building a secure digital infrastructure and protecting citizens' personal data.

How can we ensure that youth voices are actively included in shaping gender equality policies and solutions, especially in the context of digital transformation?

The inclusion of youth, especially young women, in shaping policies and solutions in the digital age is essential for advancing gender equality. Balanced participation of women and men in all areas of life is a cornerstone of any democratic society. Talent is equally distributed between women and men, girls and boys. As a society, we simply cannot afford to overlook the potential of half of the population – in this case, women.

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields is complex. Gender-based stereotypes are a key factor that contributes to overrepresentation of men. Young girls often receive implicit messages that subjects like mathematics or coding are not “for them.” Even if they are not told this directly, they often lack female role models in these fields.

Part of the solution lies in raising awareness - among parents, educators, and media professionals. It’s crucial to challenge stereotypes early and promote positive, diverse role models. Of course, this is an ongoing process. Change will not happen overnight.