Women and girls in ICT

On 19-20 April 2012 the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in cooperation with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), telecommunication Administrations of CIS States and ITU Development Sector, and with support of the Cisco Networking Academy hold the seminar devoted to the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (17 May) and International ‘Girls in ICT’ Day (26 April).

The main aim of the event was to support initiatives on gender equality, raising awareness of women and girls in CIS region on the benefits of their professional realization in ICT sphere, with technologies being the instrument of gender equality and women empowerment.

Representatives of 12 CIS countries involved in ICT sphere participated in the event. They were specialists from ministries, educational institutions and IT companies.

During the first day of the seminar the participants acquainted with the work of international organizations and their efforts to promote gender equality in modern society.

The seminar was opened by Orozobek Kaiykov, Head of ITU Area Office for the CIS. He made presentations about UN system and ITU history. A welcome speech of D. Badarch, UNESCO IITE Acting Director, was read by Natalia Tokareva, Head of IITE “ICTs in early childhood, primary and inclusive education” sector, who also made two presentations on UNESCO activities and gender aspects of ICT usage in education, and on gender approaches in IITE activities. The speakers of the seminar were: Gajane Valchevskaja, Area Academy Manager, CIS, Cisco Academy; Elena Onishko, Global Information Processes & Resources Department, MGIMO-University; and Andrei Untila, Programme Officer, ITU Area Office for the CIS.

Round table “Career and ICT: behind the scene” was organized on the second day of the seminar and devoted to the discussion of wide circle of issues, connected with professional realization of women in IT area, legal issues, possibility for woman to occupy high posts in this area. The portal “Girls in ICT” http://girlsinict.org/, developed by ITU, was demonstrated to the participants; it’s main function is to raise awareness of women and girls on the benefits of work in ICT sphere, and ultimately to attract more women into this area.

At the conclusion of the seminar the participants addressed a letter to Dr Hamadoun Touré, ITU Secretary-General. In this letter they expressed their gratitude for the organization of the seminar in ITU Moscow Office and encouraged to continue to address issues of gender equality in the ICT sector in ITU regional and global activities.

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