Women are underrepresented when it comes to decision-making and leadership roles in tech worldwide.

To build an equitable, fair, and prosperous digital future for all, we need to ensure that girls and women get the skills and opportunities to take up leadership roles across the ICT sector, so that more of them become decision-makers, and they, too, can drive change.

That’s why the theme for Girls in ICT Day 2024 is Leadership.

On 25 April, the global Girls in ICT Day celebrations took place in Manila, the Philippines.

Students from Far Eastern University – the host of this year’s celebrations – energetically and enthusiastically engaged in mentorship sessions on topics for the digital future, such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, and robotics.

Women and girls from across the Philippines took part in discussions, hearing insights and reflections, and sharing best practice strategies to encourage and empower both current and future generations to take up digital leadership roles.

“Leader is not just a title. A leader is a dreamer with a vision for change and gets the job done. Our dream for a more digitally inclusive and equitable future is possible, but we need women and girls to lead the tech revolution!” said Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau. “On Girls in ICT Day, I encourage you to take the floor, engage and lead the conversation.”

Around the world

At the Girls in ICT Day Workshop at ITU headquarters in Geneva, students actively participated in an interactive mentoring session addressing key subjects related to opportunities and challenges faced by women to get into leadership in tech.

At the Girls in ICT Day celebrations in South Sudan, ITU launched a program to empower girls in underserved areas with advanced ICT skills in remote and vulnerable communities.

A diverse group of women who are shaping digital policy in Europe and working towards an inclusive digital future discussed leadership in tech during an online session.

In Brazil, future leaders were empowered and inspired by mentorship sessions that ignited their passion for technology.

Over 100 girls came together to celebrate Girls in ICT Day in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

More ITU-hosted regional celebrations are taking place throughout the year in Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe; in Egypt, Iraq, and the State of Palestine; in India, Thailand and Vanuatu; in Kazakhstan; in Paraguay; and in Czechia.

Girls in ICT Day is now a global movement, with ITU partners and other organizations conducting their own events and celebrations on the Girls in ICT Day and throughout the year. See the map on our Girls in ICT portal.

This is an ITU Development #DigitalImpactUnlocked story