Network of Women for WTDC (NoW4WTDC)
Fireside Discussions
“How can ITU serve our membership?"
Powered by NoW4WTDC for the Arab Region
Remarks
Doreen Bogdan-Martin
Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau
1 December 2021
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, everyone.
It is a great pleasure to be here today for the second NoW4WTDC fireside discussion, organized by ITU's Regional Office in the Arab Region.
As you may know, we launched the fireside discussions this past October.
In the first session hosted by ITU's office for Europe, we learned more about ITU and our processes towards WTDC, our Study Groups and the role of TDAG.
I am thankful to all our speakers at that session, including our TDAG Chair Ms Roxanne McElvane Webber, and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Advisory Board of the Network of Women for WTDC, Ms Cristiana Flutur and Ms Inga Rimkeviciene.
It was so inspiring to hear from them all, including their insights, suggestions, and motivational personal stories. I hope that you had a similar experience.
I think that such motivational stories speak to the power of this network. Here we have the spaces to learn from each other, share our challenges, and take action to inspire even more women delegates to participate in and assume leadership positions as we lead up to WTDC.
Just two weeks ago, we held our first meeting of the Advisory Board of the Network of Women, where we discussed how to build momentum towards WTDC and ensure that women leaders in ITU-D are fully empowered.
In this regard, I would like to congratulate the Network of Women for WTDC in the Arab States for the substantial progress they have made in launching the network, setting its Terms of Reference, and electing its Chair, Ms. Noha Gaafar, and the Vice-Chairs Ms. Zeina BouHarb , Ms. Carole Hage and Ms. Ava Nader, who are all here with us today.
In today's session, we will share more on ITU's work in areas such as digital transformation and digital inclusion, and on specific ways through which we support our membership.
Just yesterday, ITU launched the 2021 Facts and Figures publication, which revealed that worldwide, 57% of women are using the internet, as compared to 62% of men. That disparity goes even deeper in LDCs, where only 19% of women are using the internet compared to 31% of men.
We simply cannot leave women behind as digital has rapidly taken its place as the ''new normal.''
This includes young women and girls, as we know that young people are vital partners in shaping our shared digital future.
It is a pleasure to have all of you with us on our journey towards digital inclusion, as we strive to achieve meaningful connectivity for everyone, irrespective of their gender, age, or where they happen to live.
I hope you gain get some great takeaways from this session, and I look forward to seeing you back for subsequent fireside discussions.
