Name: WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025
Start: 2025-07-07T07:00:00+02:00
End: 2025-07-11T23:00:00+02:00
Location: Palexpo

Network of Women Ministers and Leaders in ICT

ITU

Session 446

On invitation only Wednesday, 9 July 2025 07:45–09:00 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) participation only Room X, Palexpo Special Session 2 Images

The session (by invitation only) aims to provide a high-level stage for women Ministers and Leaders in ICT, as well as members of the Geneva international community, to engage in strategic and interactive dialogue and share experiences. The session also seeks to launch the NoW Ministers and Leaders in ICT platform, a programme to leverage and strengthen the work of women leaders in bridging the gender digital divide, especially in new emerging technologies.

Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin Secretary-General International Telecommunication Union Opening remarks

Ms. Sulyna Abdullah Chief, Strategic Planning and Membership, and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General ITU Moderator

H.E. Ms. Rose Pola Pricemou Minister Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Guinea

Prof. Sandra Maximiano Chair of ANACOM’s Board of Directors Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM)

Mr. Martin Chungong Secretary-General Inter-Parliamentary Union

Eng. Ghalya Al Mannaee Chair of Strategic Affairs and Development General Women’s Union

Ms. Anupama Sekhar Senior Skills for Social Impact Microsoft

Ms. Silvana Koch-Mehrin Founder and President Women Political Leaders (WPL)

Dr. Charles Noir Vice-President, Community Investment Policy and Advocacy Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA), Canada

Ms. Yolanda Martinez Manager for Digital Development in Latin American and the Caribbean World Bank

Dr. Alessandra Sala Chair of AI and Multimedia Standards Collaboration, Sr Director of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Shutterstock

Ms. Edith Hattie Kalagho ITU160 Gender Champion Malawi

Ms. Hiqmat Sungdeme Saani ITU160 Gender Champion Ghana

Ms. Fatima Nisar ITU160 Gender Champion Pakistan

Ms. Amina Gabitova ITU160 Gender Champion Kazakhstan

Ms. Roser Almenar ITU Youth Advisory Board Europe

Ms. Daniella Darlington ITU Youth Advisory Board Africa

Ms. Halima Mohamed Ismaeel Hasan Salman Altorabi ITU Youth Advisory Board Arab States

Ms. Khanh Linh Tong ITU Youth Advisory Board Asia and the Pacific

Ms. Melissa Michelle Munoz Suro ITU Youth Advisory Board Americas

Topics

Capacity Building Digital Divide Digital Inclusion Digital Skills Digital Transformation Global Digital Compact (GDC) Human Rights

WSIS Action Lines

C1. The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for development
C4. Capacity building
C11. International and regional cooperation

The Network of Women (NoW) Ministers and Leaders in ICT session brings together decision-makers and advocates from across the globe to accelerate gender equality in technology leadership. Anchored in WSIS Action Lines C1, C4, and C11, the session highlights the pivotal role of governments and stakeholders in mainstreaming gender in digital development agendas (C1), fostering inclusive leadership through targeted capacity-building initiatives for women in ICT policy and governance (C4), and strengthening multilateral and interregional cooperation to close the digital gender gap (C11). By providing a space for dialogue, peer exchange, and commitment, this session reinforces the collective will to advance women’s leadership and drive more inclusive and equitable digital transformation at all levels.

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

The Network of Women (NoW) Ministers and Leaders in ICT supports the achievement of SDGs 5, 10, and 17 by fostering gender-inclusive leadership in digital policy and decision-making. Aligned with the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-SWAP) and the UN Gender Equality Acceleration Plan (GEAP), NoW contributes to institutional accountability, particularly in performance indicators related to leadership, capacity development, and strategic planning. The session strengthens SDG 5 by promoting women’s full and effective participation in ICT leadership; SDG 10 by addressing structural barriers that limit diversity in decision-making spaces; and SDG 17 by leveraging partnerships and intergovernmental collaboration to accelerate gender equality in the digital age. Through dialogue and concrete commitments, NoW reinforces the role of governments and all stakeholders in advancing inclusive digital development, aligned with both WSIS Action Lines and broader UN system mandates.

GDC Objectives

Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals
Objective 2: Expand inclusion in and benefits from the digital economy for all

Images

Links

ITU gender webpage: https://www.itu.int/en/action/gender-equality/Pages/default.aspx