The European “Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation” event was held virtually on the 24th of April 2025, from 15:30 to 16:30 CEST. Organized by the ITU, with support from the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT), Društvo VTIS and the Permanent Mission of Slovenia, the event aimed to inspire and encourage girls to pursue a future or career in ICTs and equip them with available tools and support to succeed.
The ITU is continuing its year-round efforts to promote Girls in ICT throughout 2025. This year's theme, "Inclusive Digital Transformation," underscores the urgent need for equal access to technology, digital skills training, gender-responsive policies, and stronger support for women’s participation in the digital economy. Achieving this vision also requires visible female role models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to inspire and encourage young women to pursue careers in these fields.
This event engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from European Ministries, UN organizations, academia, the private sector, CERN, the ITU-D Network of Women (NoW), the Generation Connect Europe Youth Group representatives and young women across Europe. It highlighted the vital role women in Europe play in driving inclusive digital transformation, explored the challenges they face, and celebrated the inspiration they provide.
Personal stories and impactful strategies were shared from women working in diverse digital environments, across various levels and countries, and we explored what inclusive progress looks like and how to achieve it. Ultimately, the goal was to raise awareness of the vital role of girls and women in STEM, promote meaningful digital inclusion, and accelerate global connectivity by ensuring women’s full and equal participation in the digital future.
Agenda
15:30 – 15:32
| Welcome - Ms. Valentina Stadnic, Programme Officer, ITU Office for Europe
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15:32 – 15:35
| Special Video Message: Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director, Telecommunication Development Bureau, ITU
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15:35 – 16:20
| Moderated interventions from panel speakers - Ms. Valentina Stadnic, Programme Officer, ITU Office for Europe
- Ms. Inga Rimkevičienė, Chair, Com ITU CEPT Project Team for ITU-D
- Ms. Cristiana Flutur, Vice-Chair, ITU Council 2024; Head, International Affairs Unit, ANCOM
- Ms. Belén Sanz Luque, Regional Director, UN Women Europe & Central Asia
- Ms. Carmen Mayoral Gastón, Scientific Researcher, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC); Vice-President, Women and Science Commission (CSIC); Vice-President, Association of Women in Research and Technology (AMIT)
- Ms. Viktoriia Omelianenko, Project Officer, ITU Office for Europe
- Ms. Selma Kaymakci, ITU Generation Connect Europe Youth Envoy; Intern, ITU Office for Europe
- Ms. Florentia Protopsalti, Computer Engineer, CERN; RightsTech Women
- Dr. Marusa Levstek, Researcher, CoSTAR National Lab, StoryFutures
- Ms. Tina Krulec, Computer Scientist; MPhil in Technology Policy, Cambridge University
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16:20 – 16:25
| Interactions with the panel and questions from floor
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16:25 – 16:30
| Concluding remarks - Mr. Jaroslaw Ponder, Head, ITU Office for Europe
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