Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Network of Women in ITU-D interactive session here at the Global Symposium for Regulators.
The theme of our Symposium as a whole is “Regulation for sustainable digital development", and that should remind us that regulation is not only about markets, spectrum or infrastructure. These have to be regulated to serve the needs of people, and that means women as well as men!
That is why I am delighted to see that, around the world, more and more women are shaping digital transformation. Women are contributing as policymakers, regulators, entrepreneurs, engineers and in many other influential positions build the digital environment we want. Their leadership is opening new opportunities, driving innovation and ensuring everyone is equally and equitably empowered to be an active participant in the digital ecosystem.
When women's perspectives are included in regulation and policymaking, everyone benefits, because those perspectives bring innovation, resilience and a deeper understanding of the needs of communities. That is why the Network of Women in ITU-D is so important. It provides a platform for mentorship, knowledge enhancement and empowerment. It builds a pipeline of women leaders who not only take their place at the table but reshape the table.
Just recently, we concluded the NoW in ITU-D mentoring programme. For four months, mentors and mentees shared meaningful exchanges, creating a supportive space where women could learn, grow and inspire one another, ultimately strengthening their roles as leaders in the digital development sector.
I am pleased that more and more male mentors are part of this programme. Their engagement enriches our collective effort in jointly building inclusive leadership in ICT, and we are grateful for their active participation in this important journey.
Then, just two days ago, we held a confidence booster training for ITU-D women delegates. This session provided practical tools and strategies to strengthen participation of women delegates, not only during GSR-25, but also in future engagements, including the upcoming WTDC-25. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Communications, Space, and Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia.
Their generous support has been vital to the Network of Women activities within ITU-D, including the mentoring programme and related capacity development efforts. Their commitment has allowed us to advance our shared vision of enhancing women's leadership and ensuring greater participation of women in decision-making processes in the development sector.
Here at GSR-25, regulators from around the world are discussing the future of digital policy. Your conversations today through this interactive session will bring forward insights on how regulation can address bias, close skills gaps and empower women as leaders of digital transformation.
Let us remember: inclusive regulation is smart regulation, and sustainable development depends on both. Thank you!
