Celebrating World International Girls In ICT Day
International Girls in ICT Day, an initiative backed by all ITU Member States in ITU Plenipotentiary Resolution 70 (Rev. Dubai, 2018), aims to encourage and empower girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICTs, enabling both girls and technology companies to reap the benefits of greater female participation in the ICT sector.
International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of April and will next be observed on 23 April 2020. The ITU Secretary General invites ITU Member States, Sector Members, Associates and Academia to organize events attracting as many girls and young women as possible.
Girls in ICT Day contributes to the EQUALS mission of bridging the gender digital divide.
Over 357,000 girls and young women have already taken part in more than 11,100 celebrations of International Girls in ICT Day in 171 countries worldwide. Government ministries, national ICT regulatory authorities, ICT companies, academic institutions, UN agencies, and NGOs around the world are all encouraged to join the global effort and celebrate International Girls in ICT Day.
In 2019, ITU celebrated several events on International Girls in ICT Day. Each of the regional offices and the headquarters organized and participated in various events. The main celebration took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which welcomed over 250 girls from local schools and leaders from government, private sector partners, UN agencies, NGOs and the educational community.
In 2019, events were held in 102 countries around the world (more than half of ITU member states). In terms of regional distribution, there were 43 events in Africa, 167 events in the Americas, 8 in Arab States, 79 in Asia and the Pacific, 7 in CIS Countries, 76 in Europe and an additional 6 events in other places.
