International Day of Sport for Development and Peace: Girls in ICT and Sport

The objective of this thematic workshop is to discuss, share and encourage the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment—both in sport itself and in the world of technology and ICTs.

The annual World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum is a global multi-stakeholder platform facilitating the implementation of the WSIS Action Lines for advancing sustainable development. It provides an opportunity for information exchange, knowledge creation and sharing of best practices, while identifying emerging trends and fostering partnerships, taking into account the evolving Information and Knowledge Societies.

The WSIS Forum serves as a key forum for discussing the role of ICTs as a means of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, with due regard to the global mechanism for follow-up and review of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Objective
The objective of this thematic workshop is to discuss, share and encourage the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment—both in sport itself and in the world of technology and ICTs. Sport and ICTs can be great drivers of gender equality, by teaching women and girls the values of teamwork, self-reliance, and resilience. Sport can provide girls with social connections and a refuge from violence in their homes and communities and help them to understand their bodies and build confidence and the ability to speak up.

On the occasion of the 6th of April celebration of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, this session will show how sport has enormous potential to bring people together from diverse backgrounds to advance peace and development. This panel will focus on how we as a global community can collaborate to maximize the potential of sport and ICTs, especially for young women and girls.

As the lockdowns and school closures of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown us, the global gender digital has increased. Children, especially girls who are unconnected, are missing crucial learning opportunities related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

This thematic workshop will also reflect upon ITU’s commitment to support and expand the Girls in ICT program. This year, more than ever before, we must inspire girls to see a brighter future. Through online access, skills education, digital tools training and showcasing role models in sport, we can equip girls and young women with the necessary skills, crucial for their health, education, voice and empowerment.

Outcomes
1.     Celebrate 6th of April International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, by linking sport and gender, as well as highlighting International Girls in ICT Day which will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary on 22 April 2021.
2.     Introduce the WSIS Forum to new stakeholders, as a global multi-stakeholder platform for advancing sustainable development.
3.     Enhance knowledge sharing, dialogue, and encourage partnerships amongst WSIS stakeholders, related to the track on the use of sport and ICTs, highlighting social inclusion for women, youth empowerment and innovative technologies.
4.     Present potential future work related to the Sport and ICT track, under the WSIS process.