Archived Newsroom • Press Release |
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ITU Award
goes to President Cristina Fernández of Argentina, Sun Yafang and Geena
Davis
World Telecommunication and Information Society
Award focuses on “Women and Girls in information and communication technology
(ICT)”
Geneva, 9 May 2012 – ITU marks the 147th anniversary of its
establishment on 17 May this year by recognizing three eminent personalities who
have contributed to the ongoing digital revolution in information and
communication technologies (ICT). President of Argentina Ms Cristina Fernández
de Kirchner, Chairman of Huawei Ms Sun Yafang, and Hollywood celebrity and
advocate Geena Davis will be awarded the 2012 ITU World Telecommunication
and Information Society Award in recognition of their leadership and dedication
towards promoting ICTs as a means of empowering women and girls.
Making the announcement, ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun Touré lauded the work
of the laureates in promoting both the involvement of women in the ICT field,
and in leveraging the catalytic role ICTs can play in creating far-reaching
opportunities for women and girls.
“This year’s theme, ‘Women and Girls in ICT’ aims to ensure that there is
equal opportunity for all and that women and girls can play a greater role
within the ICT sector,” Dr Touré said. “We are determined to work with partners
across all sectors of society to promote the full potential of ICTs for the
benefit of women and girls. The ability of technology to empower women and girls
in communities around the world is still largely untapped. Technology can play a
much greater role as a catalyst and contributor to reach the Millennium
Development Goals, eliminate gender disparities and enable greater access for
girls and women to knowledge and career opportunities.”
ITU advocates the opening of fresh avenues of advancement to women at the
highest echelons of decision making, and encourages young women to seek
opportunities within the ICT sector.
The World Telecommunication and Information Society Award will be presented
in Geneva on 16 May 2012. The ceremony will be followed by a high-level panel
discussion with the laureates and other distinguished speakers.
World Telecommunication and Information Society Awards
President Cristina Fernández has sought to empower women and
girls through ICTs. Under her leadership, telecommunication development has made
great strides in Argentina. The National Telecommunication Plan, pushed by
Executive Power, has taken far-reaching steps to connect the people of Argentina
to ICTs. President Cristina Fernández has been a staunch supporter of the
Movimiento Justicialista and is committed to the defence of Human Rights and
gender equality. She was elected President of Argentina in 2007 and re-elected
in 2011.
Ms Sun Yafang is Chairman of Huawei, a position she has held
since 1999. Ms Sun’s leadership has taken Huawei from a small local enterprise
to a global giant providing innovative technologies and tailored solutions and
services to leading telecoms operators worldwide. Ms Sun is also actively
involved in a variety of corporate responsibility programmes as well as
philanthropic activities and is an active member of the Broadband Commission for
Digital Development.
Ms Geena Davis is an Academy Award winning
Hollywood actor and is recognized for her advocacy of women and
girls. She is the founder of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in
Media, a research-based organization working within the media and entertainment
industry to engage, educate and influence the need for gender balance, reducing
stereotyping and creating a wide variety of female characters for entertainment
targeting children 11 and under. Geena Davis is ITU’s special envoy for women
and girls in the field of information and communication technology.
For more information, see
www.itu.int/wtisd/index.html
or contact:
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Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations
and Public Information
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