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Addressing the existing gender gap in digital access is crucial. As of 2024, there were 189 million fewer women than men online, highlighting a significant disparity.
This issue extends beyond mere access to technology, as noted by Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the leader of the UN telecommunications agency, ITU. She emphasizes that this gap represents missed opportunities for women in education, employment, and in influencing the future of our digital landscape.
In her message for the forthcoming International Girls in ICT Day, she remarked, “That’s too many missed opportunities to learn, to earn and to shape our shared digital future.”
Bogdan-Martin pointed out that simply having access to the internet is insufficient for true digital transformation. It is imperative that this access is both meaningful and sustainable. This encompasses affordability of digital devices and services, as well as possessing the necessary skills to utilize technology effectively and feel safe in online environments. “Everyone deserves the chance to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” she stated.
2025 Theme
The Girls in ICT Day, celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of April, serves to inspire young girls to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Since its inception in 2011, the event has attracted over 417,000 girls and young women, with more than 11,500 celebrations held across 175 nations.
The theme for 2025, Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation, emphasizes the need for enhanced investment in the digital education of girls and broader access to technology. The ITU encourages the next generation of women to step into roles as creators rather than remaining just consumers in the digital space.
“Whether you are an entrepreneur launching an AI startup, a teacher integrating digital skills into your curriculum, or a policymaker influencing our collective digital future, you can help ensure that every woman and girl has the opportunity to connect, create, and lead in digital spaces,” Bogdan-Martin highlighted.
Global Observance
The global observance for 2025 will be co-hosted by the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Eurasia and nations from the Arab region, featuring a live-streamed hybrid event linking locations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and Nouakchott, Mauritania. The agenda includes intergenerational dialogues among girls, women leaders, and ICT professionals to brainstorm effective strategies for bridging the gender divide.
Numerous events are being planned globally, including initiatives such as Girls in ICT in Solomon Islands in the Pacific, the Melon Girls Club in North Macedonia, and STEM Supergirls in Croatia.
Source
news.un.org