International Girls in ICT Day

International Girls in ICT Day History

International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire and empower young women to consider careers in the information and communications technology (ICT) field. Championed by the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the event promotes the importance of digital skills and gender equality in the tech industry. It encourages governments, educational institutions and private organisations to establish educational and awareness campaigns to change societal attitudes and gender stereotypes that prevent young women from pursuing careers in this sector.

The observance of International Girls in ICT Day began in 2010, with its relevance being recognised worldwide, including in Australia. Aussie girls and young women are highly encouraged to take part in activities that expose them to ICT, a field traditionally dominated by males. The event serves as an opportunity to acknowledge and address the gender digital divide in the country while highlighting the significance of creating an inclusive digital future. Australian organisations such as the Australian Computer Society and Girl Geek Academy often invigorate events and workshops to stimulate interest and foster talent among girls in ICT.

In Australia, International Girls in ICT Day is commemorated annually. Observance includes a range of activities: engaging panel discussions, digital literacy workshops, coding marathons, and educational events. These activities are designed to foster learning, increase female student enrolment in ICT courses, and provide networking opportunities with women professionals in the ICT industry. International Girls in ICT Day typically falls on the fourth Thursday in April.

Facts about International Girls in ICT Day

• The theme for International Girls in ICT Day in 2024 was Leadership.The theme in 2023 was Digital Skills for Life.
• According to unwomen.org, about 65% of the children around the world who are entering primary school today will have jobs that do not yet exist.
• Women hold only 25% of all the jobs in the tech industry, despite making up more than half of the workforce.
• Women who do work in ICT in Australia often face gender-related challenges, including lower pay than their male counterparts. According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the gender pay gap for women in Australian ICT was 20% in 2020.
• Code Like a Girl is a social enterprise providing girls and women with the confidence, tools, knowledge and support to enter, and flourish, in the world of coding. They organize coding and digital literacy workshops, school incursions, internships and events.

In the News and Trending in Australia for International Girls in ICT Day

Top things to do in Australia for International Girls in ICT Day

• Discover events around you. The International Telecommunication Union hosts events around the world so be sure to check for any upcoming ones.
• Listen to a podcast with the founder of the Women in Science International League Dr. Nisreen El-Hashemite.
• Watch a Documentary to learn more about Girls in ICT in Australia:
  1) Debugging the Gender Divide: Australian Women in Technology - A documentary that tells the stories of successful women in the Australian tech industry, highlighting their achievements and challenges along the way.
  2) Tech Girls - An Australian documentary that focuses on encouraging and inspiring girls to get involved in technology and ICT.
• Attend relevant workshops: Companies and organizations often host workshops where girls can learn coding, app development, or other ICT skills.