Bermudians joined United Nations delegates in New York City to discuss gender equality earlier this week.

Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Social Development and Seniors, attended the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women on Monday and Tuesday.

The second-largest UN annual gathering, the CSW is dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women around the world.

Ms Furbert and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Valerie Robinson-James, represented Bermuda as part of the United Kingdom delegation at this year’s event, which had the theme “Innovation and technological change and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.

Ms Furbert highlighted in the House of Assembly yesterday that some issues discussed during the two days, which included the increase in gender-based online harassment and the lack of women in scientific technological fields, were relevant to Bermuda.

She added: “I am pleased to share with my honourable colleagues that although there is much work ahead to implement initiatives that will reduce gender inequality, Bermuda is on the right trajectory.

“With the recent establishment of the Gender Affairs Council, I look forward to receiving recommendations on how to fight online gender violence to support women and girls.

“The digital world cannot be one in which women and girls are in danger. It must be a safe and enabling environment.“

Ms Furbert said she and her team would participate in the CSW side event meetings this week that can be streamed online from the United Nations website.

This year’s commission will run until March 17.