Side Event of the Commission on the Status of Women

 

How to encourage girls to ride the tech wave to a brighter future

Information Session

Tuesday,  6 March 2012 from 1:15-2:45pm

Conference Room B, North Lawn Building, at the United Nations Headquarters

New York

 

 

Contact: london@un.org

 

Panelists:

 

- H.E. Ms. Jasna Matic, State Secretary for Digital Agenda (Republic of Serbia)

 

- Mr. Gary Fowlie, Head, ITU Liaison Office to the United Nations

 

- Ms. Susan Schorr, Head, Special Initiatives Division (ITU-BDT)

 

- Ms. Yassine Fall, Chief- Economic Empowerment Section, UNWomen

 

- Ms. Rina Gill, Associate Director of Gender Rights and Civic Engagement, UNICEF

 

 

Job opportunities in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) continue to grow, and many countries and regions are predicting a shortage of qualified staff with math, science, engineering and computing skills to meet the growing demand. 

Globally, it is estimated that the world shortfall in skilled ICT professionals exceeds two million. At the same time, many companies are looking to increase the number  of women in the sector. This means that highly qualified women in technical fields have significant opportunities available to them. 

 

Unfortunately, teenage girls and young women often never even consider  a career in ICTs. There is a lack of awareness among students, teachers and parents of the opportunities presented by a career in ICT. 

 

International Girls’ in ICT Day is an initiative launched by ITU Members in Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Guadalajara, 2010) with the idea of  creating a global environment that will empower and encourage  girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and  communication technologies. It set the 4th

 

Thursday in April of every year to be the day girls and young women are invited to spend the day at the office of ICT companies, government agencies and academic 

institutions so they better understand the opportunities the ICT sector 

holds for their future.

ITU actively encourages Ministries of Communication, Education and Youth, ICT Companies, Academic Institutions and NGOs to get involved and organize local, regional and national events designed to showcase ICT and technology careers to young female students.

 

Learn more about how you can get involved! This information session will provide tips on how to organize your event this April 26th and introduce the new ITU Girls in ICT Portal at girlsinict.org. Those interested in organizing or publicizing a Girls in ICT event are invited to contact girlsinict@itu.int