May 17th is Telecommunications and Information Society Day and it’s all about Women & Girls in ICT

ITU

According to the narrative on the International Telecommunication Union website  …“Women are the bedrock of our societies. They are the pillars of strength in every family and community. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched. Women and girls are denied access to basic health care and education and to equal opportunities at work. They face segregation in economic, political and social decision-making and often suffer violence and discrimination.

This situation is unacceptable and must be addressed with all the means available to us.

Gender equality is a basic human right enshrined in the UN Charter, and it is one of the main objectives of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). ICTs are tools that can help accelerate progress towards achieving this target, and it is for this reason that ITU Council proposed that we focus our efforts this year on women and girls, using the power of ICTs to provide new digital opportunities to end discrimination and empower the female half of the world’s population to achieve their rightful place as equals in the world. And this effort with ICTs must begin not only from the cradle, but from antenatal health care, reaching out to the remotest communities – with every mother, every girl and every woman guaranteed her birthright.

The theme of this year’s WTISD, “Women and Girls in ICT”, aims to ensure that this vulnerable female half of the world’s population will march forward as equals.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) aims at increasing knowledge about the potential that can be harnessed by societies and economies from the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT).  World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is also geared towards raising awareness of ways to bridge the digital divide. “

In Jamaica

The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) will commemorate WTISD 2012 with a mini-conference and exposition at the PCJ Auditorium on Thursday, May 17, 2012 from 3:00p.m to 5:00p.m. The conference will feature presentations by female pioneers and exemplary women in the ICT industry. There will also be an exhibition by the ICT departments of the island’s three leading Universities. Keynote Speaker is Lorna Green, Founder/Ceo of Digital Transtec.

SiliconCaribe’s series on Women in ICT

Marguerite Orane

Coretta Singer

Monique Powell

Karin Wilson-Edmonds

We will continue it as long as we can find Caribbean Women in ICT to profile.

Women who have succeeded in technology deserve recognition: They are an inspiration for everyone, demonstrating what can be achieved through creativity and hard work.” – Fast Company.