Buenos Aires City: Dr. Graciela De Oto, President of Suma Veritas Foundation, actively participated as a panelist at the IV International Congress of Women Leaders for Sustainability 2024. This congress, an initiative by the Gender and Equal Opportunities Coordination of the General Secretariat of the International Network of SDG Promoters (RIPO) and the Sustainable Venezuela Ambassadors Foundation (EVS), coincides with the commemoration of "International Women's Day," instituted by the United Nations in 1975 to champion the rights of women and girls.

The theme for the year 2024, as set forth by the United Nations, is "Financing Women's Rights: Accelerating Equality," recognizing the pivotal role of financial empowerment in realizing gender equality by 2030.

The objectives of the congress are twofold: firstly, to provide a platform for stakeholders to promote actions, policies, and campaigns aligned with SDG 5 "Gender Equality" and SDG 10 "Reducing Inequalities" of the 2030 Agenda. Emphasizing SDG 17 "Partnerships for the Goals" is crucial for financing policies aimed at ensuring the rights of women and girls, pivotal for sustainable development. Additionally, the congress seeks to raise awareness about gender equality, recognizing it as the foremost challenge in human rights. It targets a diverse audience including the public, government officials, local authorities, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, the private sector, professionals, universities, teachers, students, and the media.

During the congress, Dr. Graciela De Oto emphasized the imperative of addressing the financing gap and urged increased investment in initiatives promoting women's rights globally. She also spotlighted the significant challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing financing, citing statistics indicating that 73% of women who own SMEs lack adequate funding. Additionally, Dr. De Oto elaborated on the efforts of the International Development Bank (IBD) to facilitate access to financing for women entrepreneurs, emphasizing collaborative strategies.

Furthermore, Dr. De Oto highlighted innovative approaches employed by fintech companies to address the financing gap. She underscored how FinTechs leverage big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to include women in the financial system, employing algorithms based on mobile phone usage patterns rather than traditional credit history analysis.

These insights underscored the pressing need for collaborative efforts and innovative solutions to address challenges faced by women in accessing financial resources, ultimately advancing gender equality and sustainable development goals.

Dr. Graciela De Oto expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to such a crucial dialogue and reaffirmed the Suma Veritas Foundation's commitment to advancing gender equality and sustainable development goals.