Events

The ITU Secretary-General visited the Vatican and met up with Pope Francis to discuss building a more inclusive, connected and compassionate world where emerging tech and digital innovation bridge divides and serve the common good. ​​

The ITU Secretary-General met up with the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain to talk about strengthening ITU and WPF's joint work on emergency communications for humanitarian response and early warnings for all. 

At the UN climate conference (COP29), the ITU Secretary-General said we all have a role to play in our planet's future. "Incredible things can happen when the digital transition and green transition work together," she noted, citing ITU's Green Digital Action initiative.​​

At the opening of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24), the ITU Secretary-General said the global gathering called for bold action to strengthen international tech standards. "The growing hopes and fears surrounding digital and emerging tech like AI are calling on us to rise to this moment," she said, adding that standards would form "the bedrock of global digital governance."​​

The Global Standards Symposium (GSS-24) in New Delhi, India, highlighted pressing issues in global innovation, along with the need for global collaboration to harness the full potential of new tech. "To catalyse change, we all need to pull together for a future of digital innovation that benefits all," the ITU Secretary-General said.

Representatives of Geneva-based United Nations (UN) agencies came together at ITU Headquarters to identify ways to advance the new Global Digital Compact, recently adopted at the UN General Assembly. ITU will support its members in implementing the Compact and continue fostering multistakeholder cooperation to build a digital future for all, the ITU Secretary-General said.​​

In a keynote at the opening of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union's ICT Week 2024 hosted by St. Kitts and Nevis, the ITU Secretary-General told participants that ITU is taking action in key areas to support implementation of the Global Digital Compact in the Caribbean and beyond. They include guiding on how to use tech for good safely and meaningfully, developing resilient digital infrastructure, and collaborating on investment within and across regions.​

ITU stands ready to support the implementation of the Global Digital Compact, said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin at the Summit of the Future in New York. In her plenary statement she deemed it a momentous day for digital and congratulated Member States for delivering the Pact for the Future, the Declaration on Future Generations, and the Global Digital Compact. ​​

At SDG Digital in New York, ITU and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) put a spotlight on global pledges and innovative solutions to accelerate progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ITU Secretary-General said in her opening speech: "The commitments and solutions on display during the digital track of the UN Summit of the Future Action Days send a powerful message to the world that we will do what's necessary to rescue the SDGs and build a better digital future for all, now and for generations to come."​

At the Space Sustainability Forum the ITU Secretary-General outlined how ITU has over the decades become an essential part of the space endeavour. Virtually everything we do in space relies on radiocommunication. “Even the dark side of the Moon is protected from radio-frequency interference thanks to a visionary ITU decision taken in 1971," said the Secretary-General. Looking to the future, work is underway for the World Radiocommunication Conference 2027, whose agenda is largely space related. ​

​At the opening of ITU's annual Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group meeting, the Secretary-General noted the key role of standards in global governance discussions, underlining the importance of the upcoming World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24)​.​

​At the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York, the ITU Secretary-General noted the need for digital inclusion and innovation to put the Sustainable Development Goals back on track, adding in her statement that future generations deserve more than 17 per cent of a sustainable future. ​​

​Meaningful connectivity goes beyond infrastructure that connects schools and people to the Internet. It's also about being able to afford devices and data packages, having the skills to use tech in a beneficial way, and feeling safe online, said the ITU Secretary-General during the Giga Connectivity Forum at ITU headquarters from 8 to 10 July.​​

​​​The ITU Secretary-General thanked Uganda for hosting this year's Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR-24) in Kampala - at the heart of “the Pearl of Africa." Africans are taking full ownership of their digital future, she said in her opening remarks.​​

​​​​ITU and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aim to strengthen their collaboration on smart industry and sustainable development. ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan Martin and UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller signed a Joint Declaration reinforcing the link between universal, meaningful connectivity and the new industrial revolution, particularly in relation to Sustainable Development Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.​​

​​​​The ITU Secretary-General welcomed António Guterres, Secretary-General of United Nations, to the ITU Council session in Geneva on 12 June. In her introductory speech she told councillors that we have a UN Secretary-General who speaks our language, who understands the opportunities and challenges ​of modern technology, and who has made digital a top priority.​​

​The ITU Secretary-General attended the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) Principals meeting and UN Chief Executives Board meeting in Santiago, Chile from 1-3 May. Prior to that, she met with Government of Chile officials on 30 April. She said it was great to meet with leading members of Chile's vibrant telecommunications sector to discuss equitable access to the benefits of digital tech. ​

The ITU Secretary-General delivered a keynote address at the Cybersecurity Fund Launch hosted by the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC). She says that “together we can build a universally open, secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem with our UN system and beyond.”

​The ITU Secretary-General along with a group of TU staff members made a visit to CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research − where they were given a tour. The SG is looking forward to working closely with CERN to advance science and tech for the benefit of humanity.

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The ITU Secretary-General invited UN communicators to ITU headquarters in Geneva to talk to them about the upcoming AI for Good Summit. The group discussed the benefits of AI and how it links to each of the Sustainable Development Goals.​

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Paying a visit to American University students in Washington, D.C., the ITU Secretary-General urged them not to take emerging tech or connectivity for granted in our digitally divided world. Young people must be at the table in the push for bold, forward-thinking policies so we can build an inclusive, safe and sustainable digital future for all, she added.​​

At the Satellite 2024 Conference and Exhibition in Washington D.C., the ITU Secretary-General addressed the future of the satellite industry – what's at stake, and ITU's role in it – universal, meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation as her top priorities. She also delivered a keynote at the SATELLITE 2024 Awards Luncheon. ​

In Washington, D.C., the ITU Secretary-General exchanged views and insights with the U.S. ITU Association on progress and priorities in building a fit-for-future ITU.​​

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin commended G7 ministers for reinforcing the critical role of international standards across the G7 Italy Declaration.

The world is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration of tech history, but solving development challenges in the age of artificial intelligence requires going beyond connectivity. The SG says that today's digital experience must be affordable, meaningful, and it must be safe.

Addressing a meeting of the United Nations High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence held at ITU Headquarters, the ITU Secretary-General said she was looking forward to working together to strike the complex but necessary balance between regulation, innovation, and inclusion to ensure AI works for the good of people and planet.​​

At a press conference in the United Nations Office at Geneva​, the ITU Secretary-General briefed journalists on how ITU's work makes global communications possible. ​​

The ITU Secretary-General welcomed ambassadors from Europe to ITU Headquarters for a briefing on emerging trends, human-centric digital transformation, and ITU's activities in the region.​​

​​​The ITU Secretary-General addressed a Royal College of Defence Studies (UK) delegation visiting ITU Headquarters. By engaging with academic institutions, ITU aims to forge a deeper understanding and help shape our shared digital future in a way that benefits everyone, she said.

The ITU Secretary-General gave the opening remarks at World Wildlife Day celebrations in Geneva, held at ITU Headquarters. ITU is championing green digital action to forge a stronger and more sustainable connection between people and planet.​​​

At MWC Barcelona, the ITU Secretary-General announced over USD 9 billion worth of new pledges by mobile operator groups through the ITU-led Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. Over four days, she addressed the ministerial-level “Steering the Digital Economy" session, moderated a roundtable of women tech leaders, discussed women's digital inclusion and early warnings for all, co-chaired the Smart Africa Steering Committee, and promoted the ITU-UNICEF school connectivity initiative Giga.​​

​​The ITU Secretary-General attended the Space Debris Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where she talked about the need to ensure that our shared space environment becomes an accessible, sustainable, and beneficial commons for all humanity.​

The Secretary-General delivered a keynote speech in Singapore and took part in a fireside chat at Asia Tech x Inspire (ATxInspire)  ahead of the 29-31 May ATxSummit.​​

​On a visit to Singapore as part of its Distinguished Visitors' Programme, the ITU Secretary-General met with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Communications and Information, and Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development.​

​​​The support of ITU’s Regional Offices is key to helping countries advance and accelerate digital transformation. The Secretary-General caught up with ITU Asia Pacific staff in Bangkok who are dedicated to delivering on the priorities for the region.​

​The ITU Secretary-General attended the 4th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting in Singapore on 1-2 February, for a high-level session with ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN). Building an inclusive and trusted digital ecosystem is the cornerstone of a shared digital future.​​​​​​

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​​The ITU Secretary-General addressed the Network of Women in the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) to kick off a “NOW4WTSA24" campaign promoting gender equality at the upcoming World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA-24).

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​World Economic Forum (W​EF) discussions highlighted ITU's priorities on AI, space services and digital inclusion. 

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​​The ITU Secretary-General gave remarks at the closing session of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23) in Dubai, UAE. See press release on highlights of the conference.​​

​The ITU Secretary-General moderated the session on the Future of Human Rights and Digital Technology at HR75 – the 75^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. ​

​​​The ITU Secretary-General addressed the high-level opening of Green Digital Action at COP28. ITU, together with partners spanning governments, businesses, civil society, and fellow UN agencies, convened the Green Digital Action track to step up digital climate action.​​

​During COP28, the ITU Secretary-General joined the launch of the Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum– a key initiative to accelerate climate action. She is seen here talking to His Majesty King Charles III about telecoms, artificial intelligence, and all things in space.​

​The ITU Secretary-General addressed the Giga Global retreat, which brought together ITU and UNICEF colleagues engaged in the push to connect every school in the world to the Internet.​​

The ITU Secretary-General addressed the Huawei 2023 Sustainability Forum, noting how Partner2Connect pledges are helping to extend meaningful connectivity to everyone world​wide.​

The ITU Secretary-General gave closing remarks at the Radiocommunication Assembly (RA-23) in Dubai, UAE, immediately preceding the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-23). A resolution by RA-23 strengthens gender equality and promotes women's involvement across the radiocommunication sector.

During the United Nations General Assembly, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin and UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner called for scaling up innovative, ambitious digital solutions to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Watch their SDG Digital opening.​​

Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin welcomed participants of the EQUALS-EU Summer School program in Geneva to ITU HQ, for a discussion on women in tech leadership and bridging the gender digital divide. She urged them to bring their valuable contributions to the field of technology.​​

​At the 13th World Chambers Congress in Geneva, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin opened a session on Digital Transformation for SME success. Noting the digital transformation success of SMEs is everyone's success, she encouraged participants to consider the issue through the lens of meaningful connectivity.​​

​Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin attended the G20 Development Ministers' meeting in Varanasi, held under India's G20 Presidency. She commended G20 nations for their emphasis on harnessing data and digital technologies in a responsible and sustainable manner and underscored that achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals requires connecting the 2.7 billion people who are still offline. ​

​Delivering opening remarks at the High-Level Dialogue on Early Warnings for All, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin emphasized the importance of last-mile connectivity, to ensure warnings reach those at risk in time to take action. She urged: ''Let's reduce inequalities and invest in digital technology, and let's cover the whole world with an early warning system by the end of 2027."  ​

ITU's 158th birthday was marked by a celebration of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), at ITU HQ. Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin said, ''This year we dedicate the Day to Least Developed Countries and I'm calling for your Partner2Connect pledges to support their digital journey. Together we can make 2023 a year of unprecedented digital development in LDCs.''​​

While participating at the SAMENA Council Leaders' Summit in Dubai, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin noted with pleasure the Summit's focus on sustainable connectivity, given its alignment with ITU's strategic objectives: universal meaningful connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.​​

Permanent Representatives and Ambassadors to the UN in Geneva attended a briefing at ITU. Chaired by Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin, this meeting provided an update on the current priorities and activities of the ITU and the forthcoming major events of the Union.​​​​

​​​​Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin visited Nairobi, Kenya, for meetings of the United Nations Chief Executives Board and UN Sustainable Development Group Principals. While in Nairobi, the Secretary-General also had bilateral meetings with H.E. President William Ruto and Kenyan government officials. ​​

​​Celebrating Girls in ICT Day 2023 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin told young women and girls: ''I dare you not only to dream but to do. Learn the digital skills you need to succeed in today's digital world and the future is yours. Believe in yourself… never give up. The world needs tech, and tech needs you.''​​

​​To celebrate World Amateur Radio Day, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin connected from ITU's Amateur Radio Station 4U1ITU in Geneva to other operators in Mauritius, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. An amateur radio operator herself, she said: ''Today, we honor all the many achievements of the amateur radio community, from bringing more young people on board with this fascinating hobby, to responding to all kinds of emergency situations, to helping to keep people safe. 'Human Security for All' is this year's theme – because everyone has a right to feel safe and secure in the physical world, on the airwaves, and online.''​​

​​Leaders of United Nations agencies based in Geneva gathered at ITU headquarters to discuss a “digital rescue" for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), first adopted in 2015 and aimed at overcoming key global development challenges by 2030. Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin said she was encouraged to see the UN system prioritizing meaningful connectivity and digital solutions to catalyze progress on the SDGs, also known as the UN's Global Goals. Digital cooperation can strengthen global efforts by connecting the dots between different UN entities and mandates, towards a common goal – Agenda 2030, she added. ​​

​​​Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin received the IEEE President's award for her “distinguished leadership and contributions to the public", with IEEE President Saifur Rahman presenting the medal to her during his to Geneva. Thanking the IEEE President for this great honor, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin said: ''Our two institutions strive to advance technology for the good of all humanity. I look forward to closely collaborating, cooperating, and strengthening our partnership to further this goal.'' ​​

​The ITU Area Office and Innovation Centre in India was inaugurated on 23 March. Prime Minister of India, H.E. Narendra Modi attended the inauguration, along with External Affairs Minister, H.E. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar; Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, H.E. Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Minister of State for Communications, H.E. Devusinh Chauhan. In her opening statement, Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin noted that ''ITU's presence in the region will help introduce advanced technology, improve capacity development, foster entrepreneurship and partnerships, and respond to needs on the ground. It will get ITU closer to our members in Asia and the Pacific, by driving progress on universal connectivity and sustainable digital transformation.''  ​

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2023 took place between 13-17 March. At the opening, Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin noted, ''Participants of the first summit 20 years ago spanned governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society – it's still true today. That's the enduring strength of the WSIS Process, and that's exactly what's needed to rescue the SDGs.'' Amidst a series of high-level policy sessions, open consultations, bilateral meetings and other WSIS events, she called for the WSIS community to take action in 3 ways to rescue the SDGS:

1. Actively participate in the WSIS Process
2. Make a Partner2Connect pledge
3. Contribute to the SDG Digital Day
   

With a DigitALL-themed International Women's Day taking place during the 67^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin took the floor at the United Nations headquarters in New York to reiterate ITU's message: it's time to ensure that digital gender equality is a global reality.

She made a call to action to:  

• Get girls into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at an early age and empower women and girls with the digital skills they need to succeed.  
• Ensure women and girls have equal access to digital technologies and opportunities and base decisions on solid facts and data. 
• Give women a seat at the digital table, making gender equality a must in every organization.  

''We have a unique opportunity to ensure gender equality happens in our lifetimes,'' she reaffirmed, adding that there are ''no more ifs" and “no more excuses for not having digital gender equality now – and everywhere.'' ​​

​​​Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin headed the ITU delegation to the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). Through a series of events, panels and bilateral meetings, she conveyed her message that the digital development of the world's least developed countries through science, technology and innovation is not just an opportunity, but an imperative. LDCs can leverage the potential of digital technologies to catalyse progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, and ITU remains a partner in supporting their digital transformation journeys, including through the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition.  ​​

During an action-packed Mobile World Congress 2023, Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin delivered a main stage keynote address on ''Delivering the Digital Decade''. Underscoring how the digital cooperation that ITU facilitates is needed now more than ever, she called on industry to join hands in building ''the digital future we want'' – a future where digital technologies help put the UN Sustainable Development Goals back on track and industry enables the transition to net-zero emissions across the economy; a future that is inclusive, affordable, and secure, and where everyone has the digital skills they need to succeed. ''Let's build it together. And let's build it now,'' she urged. ​​

Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin welcomed Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, for the World Standards Cooperation meeting. ​​

​During a visit to the United Nations headquarters in New York from 6-8 January, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN partners, and members of the diplomatic community and the private sector. They discussed, among other subjects, digital cooperation and the shaping of the Global Digital Compact. Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin also drew attention to the important role that digital technologies will play in improving lives around the world, including in the context of upcoming UN meetings such as LDC5 and the SDG Summit.​​

​​​​Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin delivered a keynote address to the biannual International Gender Champions meeting in Geneva. She mentioned that she was proud to have broken the glass ceiling, with her election as the first woman Secretary-General of ITU, but emphasized that this is just the beginning – just the beginning for ITU, and for the tech sector as a whole.​​​

​In Brussels, Secretary-General Bogdan-Martin visited the European Commission. She explored ways to strengthen global digital cooperation with the EU, including on digital skills, digital health, women in digital leadership, and greening digital transformation.​​​​​​​

​​Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony of FerMUN 2023, focused on climate change.

Read her full speech here.

​​​​​​​​​​Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin enters ITU headquarters on her first day in office. Watch her take her first steps and get to work here.​