Happy International Girls in ICT Day 2024

Today, 25 April 2024, is International Girls in ICT Day. This global initiative aims to empower girls and young women in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It stems from a vision to bridge the gender gap in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field and encourages more girls and young women to pursue careers in technology. 

Date 2024-04-25 Author BIK Team Section awareness, youth Topic media literacy/education Audience children and young people, parents and carers
Girl with glasses holding a magnifying glass

In 2010, the ITU member states recognised the need to address the gender gap, particularly concerning women in the ICT sector. As a result, the fourth Thursday of April was declared International Girls in ICT Day. Since then, this initiative has become more popular, with many organisations, governments, and educational institutions joining hands to support the cause. 

Leadership

This year’s theme for the Girls in ICT Day celebrations, “Leadership “, highlights the critical need for strong female role models in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers. Despite the global growth in women's occupations, their participation in related field careers remains low.  Women in ICT often find themselves in junior or support roles with limited opportunities for advancement. To thrive in ICT, girls and young women must be exposed to women in leadership positions to break down barriers that impede advancement. 

 

Better Internet for Kids strongly supports the Girls in ICT Day initiative and aims to create a nurturing environment where young girls can explore their interests in technology safely and confidently. Through education and advocacy, we are paving the way for the next generation of female leaders in ICT, driving innovation and shaping the future of our digital world.

Learn more about our work and initiatives:

  • The National Audiovisual Institute of Finland has published the Instructional Principles for Inclusive Media Education, which aims to support media educators on a practical level in equal and non-discriminatory media education,  promoting general human development, socio-economic, gender, age, and ethnic equality and addresses ethical and moral issues.
  • The German Safer Internet Centre created guidelines for parents, educators, and friends on how to support girls who have negative digital experiences.
  • The Estonian Safer Internet Centre, in collaboration with Tallinn University of Technology, has released an e-book titled "Women in cybersecurity: role models for girls." Tailored primarily for 7th to 12th grade students, as well as their parents and teachers, this e-book features a variety of tests and chapters designed to ignite interest in ICT and assess potential, skills, and career paths. 

Learn more on International Girls in ICT Day on the ITU’s website and keep an eye on #GirlsinICT on social media.

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