​Bringing more women to the negotiation table 

An important part of ITU's work is accomplished through conferences and meetings, where members collaborate, take decisions, and negotiate the agreements which serve as the basis for the operation of global telecommunication services. Each type of meeting has a well-defined purpose and outcome, and plays its particular role in supporting ITU's mission. Bringing more women to the negotiation table will help promote the work of the organization and strengthen the mandate of the Union.

ITU membership has formally made the case since 1998

• Society as a whole, particularly in the context of the information society and knowledge society, will benefit from equal participation of women and men in policy and decision-making and equal access to communications services for both women and men (PP Resolution 70, Minneapolis, 1998 and Rev. Antalya, 2006)
• Women constitute a substantial consumer market for information and communication technologies (PP Resolution 70, Minneapolis, 1998)
• There are a growing number of women in the ICT field with decision-making power, including relevant ministries, national regulatory authorities and industry, who could promote the work of ITU so as to encourage girls to choose a career in the field of ICT and foster the use of ICTs for the social and economic empowerment of women and girls (PP Resolution 70, Rev. Guadalajara, 2010)
• There is a need to ensure that the information society enables women's empowerment and their full participation on the basis of equality in all spheres of society and in all decision-making processes (WSIS+10 statement on implementation of the WSIS outcome).

​Shaping the International Agenda: Raising Women's Voices in Intergovernmental Forums 

The joint UN-Women / International Gender Champions publication "Shaping the international agenda: raising women's voices in international forums" was launched on 20 March 2017, at the UNOG Library in Geneva.                  

The publication reviews women's representation and leadership roles in national delegations to meetings of the United Nations and other international organizations' governing bodies. It is based in part on responses to a questionnaire sent in October 2016 to members of the United Nations Governing Bodies Secretariat, to assess women's participation in different intergovernmental processes. The survey sought input on the various policies and strategies that agencies use to track and improve women's participation in their processes.

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International Geneva Gender Champion’s Impact Group on “Composition of Delegations and Panels” ​

 

 ITU is leading the International Geneva Gender Champion's Impact Group on "Composition of Delegations and Panels" and its first meeting was held at ITU Headquarter in Geneva on 19 April 2016 and gathered more than 30 participants.

The objective of the meeting was to start an exchange of information on current practices among members to support women participation in delegations and on panels and to identify possible joint Geneva Gender Champions (GGC) actions.

 

 

First Women at the ITU Negotiation Table 

ITU's Commitments

• Integrating a gender perspective in processes and activity planning including strategic and budget planning;
• Ensuring gender balance in decision-making bodies, statutory committees and study groups; and
• Using gender-sensitive language in all ITU documents including pictograms and non-text representation.

Learn more

Number of Women in ITU Delegations at PP, Council and WRC

 

 

 

ITU Secretary-General's Personal Commitments    

• encourage administrations to include more female participants in delegations attending ITU conferences and meetings;
• track and publish the numbers of female delegates who participated;
• inform Member States about the tracking; and
• give recognition to the delegations with the highest level of female representation.

See ITU Secretary-General's commitment

Expanding the Table - Taking Actions

• Ensuring more equality in conference and meeting secretariat positions
• Organization of leadership skill and negotiation skills workshops for women delegates
• Create community of practice. (PP Resolution, 70, Rev. Busan, 2014)
• Ensuring gender balance in ITU statutory committees (PP Resolution 70, Rev. Busan, 2014)
  

Expanding the Table - Monitoring Progress

• Participation of men and women in ITU conference and meeting (PP Resolution 70, Rev. Busan, 2014)
• Gender balance in statutory committee  (PP Resolution 70, Rev. Busan, 2014)
• Number of men and women in chairmanship and vice-chairmanship position