Committed to connecting the world

Workshop on Meaningful Connectivity: Women Experts and Young Experts inclusion

Time and place: Monday, 15 May 2023 from 09:30 to 10:45, Geneva (Room C, ITU)

This workshop took place in conjunction with ITU-D Study Group 1 Rapporteur Group Question (RGQ) meetings. It was open to non ITU-D Members and the public at large. It addressed the mandate of ITU-D Study Group 1 namely "Enabling environment for meaningful connectivity”. Meaningful connectivity is a level of connectivity that allows users to have a safe, satisfying, enriching and productive online experience at an affordable cost.
More specifically, the workshop will look the actions towards including women experts and youth experts to achieve Meaningful connectivity. This workshop was facilitated by ITU-D NOW, EQUALS and Generation Connect.
Generation Connect is the overarching initiative of the ITU Youth Strategy. Generation Connect aims to engage global youth and encourage their participation as equal partners alongside the leaders of today’s digital change, empowering young people with the skills and opportunities to advance their vision of a connected future.
EQUALS was co-founded in 2016 by the ITU, GSMA, International Trade Centre, UN Women and UN University. As of today, EQUALS reunites more than 100 partners ranging from academia, private sector, governments, NGOs, and civil society; working together towards bridging the gender digital divide in four main areas: Access, Skills, Leadership and Research.
Session moderators: Mr Anthony Giannoumis, Vice-Chair SG1 [Biography] and Ms Lena Ostlund, Project Officer, ITU (remote) [Biography]

Return to the main ITU-D Study Group 1 page

[09h30 – 09h40 ] Setting the Scene

Speaker:
Ms Sylvia Poll, Head of the Digital Society Division, Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT), ITU [Biography] [Presentation]

[09h40 – 10h00 ] How Meaningful Connectivity is Fostered by Youth

Speakers:

Youth Role Model - Ms Genevieve J. Sekumbo, PhD student, Geneva Graduate Institute [Biography] [Presentation]
Generation Connect Youth Envoy- Ms Alfiah Rizqi Ramdhini [ASP], Student at Bandung Institute of Technology Indonesia, AIESEC Future Leaders, Country Officer ASEAN Youth Advocacy Network [Biography] [Presentation]

[10h00 – 10h20] Women Leaders in Tech – Drivers of Meaningful Connectivity

Speakers:

Ms Nisreen Deeb, Executive Director of the Lebanese League for Women in Business and Co-Founder of Girls Got IT, Lebanon [Biography] [Presentation]
Ms Ellen Walker, Founder & Executive Director, RightsTech Women, Switzerland [Biography] [Presentation]

[10h20 – 10h45] Panel discussions and Q&A

With all the speakers, Anthony Giannoumis Vice-Chair SG1 of Norway (Youth/Women inclusion coordinator for SG1), Mr Amah Vinyo Capo, Vice-Chair SG1 of Togo [Biography] & Ms Lena Ostlund, Project Officer, ITU (remote)