The International Telecommunication Union celebrates Girls in ICT Day on the fourth Thursday of April with the objective of encouraging girls to enter and study technology, and to reduce the gender gap in this field.
The Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology (MTIT) in the State of Palestine, with the support of ITU, has been participating in this event for four consecutive years as a national initiative that engaged all stakeholders in the State of Palestine with the goal of empowering girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The Ministry aims to identify the factors that enable girls to acquire the necessary skills for critical and design thinking, problem-solving, and innovation, including access to the Internet, skills learning, digital tool training, community support, storytelling sessions, and inspirational female experiences.
As part of the State of Palestine National Girls in ICT Day Event 2023, MTIT will collaborate with different stakeholders to organize different activities throughout the year, including events, competitions, and trainings that contribute to encourage girls to consider and excel in the ICT field.
The launch event was organized by the MTIT in collaboration with the ITU and national stakeholders and took place on Thursday the 27th of April 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00 AM (9:00 to 11:00 AM Geneva Time) in the State of Palestine in hybrid format. The event aimed to promote the engagement of girls and women in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The ceremony was attended by over 100 participants from various backgrounds, including industry leaders, policymakers, educators, and students.
MTITI had invited representatives from partner organizations to serve as guest speakers. These representatives had the opportunity to share their expertise and insights with the audience, providing valuable knowledge and perspectives. Additionally, a round table discussion was organized with Girls in ICT Day's steering committee, during which they addressed the girls in attendance, offering words of encouragement and serving as positive role models. During this time, young girls had the opportunity to hear from successful young professionals and leaders, which in turn could have a powerful impact on their aspirations and goals.
