Girls in ICT Day Pacific 2023

Honourable guests, distinguished government partners, and champions of Girls in ICT Day, I warmly welcome you all to the beautiful islands of the Pacific, albeit virtually for some of you!

Today, we come together to celebrate the Pacific Girls in ICT Day Programme 2023 and to explore the path forward in scaling this impactful initiative. One that is a testament to our commitment to gender equality and in fostering a digital future that leaves no one behind.

In Micronesia, our GICT journey started with humble steps guided by big ambitions and even bigger goals.

Last September, we engaged eager students from Our Lady Of Mercy Catholic High School (OLMC) in Pohnpei, Kolonia and trained them on Child Online Protection (COP) in close partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNODC. Since then, we have produced 28 Online Safety Trainers. Trainer whom we hope to nurture further. We hope to leverage their unique experiences, knowledge, and passions to expand our reach and empower more young people to understand the importance of online safety and responsible internet use. We aim to reach over 1,000 students by the following Girls in ICT celebration next year. And by doing so, transforming these young girls and boys into advocates and champions for online safety.

At a broader scale, we aspire to create an enabling environment across states, islands, and waters where girls and young individuals see technology and ICT as viable career paths. Through internships and mentorship programmes, we can expose them to practical knowledge and real-world experiences. We can empower them to drive innovation, champion inclusive and sustainable development, and improve the quality of life in their schools, families, and communities. And this is a tall order, so I call on the UN family, governments, and private sector partners in Micronesia to develop a plan together to make this a reality.

Looking ahead, we want to expand the reach of our Girls in ICT initiatives, involving more Micronesian countries and islands in Palau, FSM, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Kiribati. We aim to make Girls in ICT an annual, institutionalised celebration. One that reminds us of the critical role of technology in ensuring that no one is left behind. Hence, with every pacing year, we strive to elevate or impact and make Girls in ICT a beacon of inspiration for the entire Pacific region.

But we recognize that there is much work to be done, and the success of this endeavour depends on the collective efforts and support from the government, private sector, and development partners. We look to you, our esteemed partners, to join hands with us, working in synergy and close collaboration, to propel these initiatives forward and secure a brighter future for our youth.

Let us embrace the shared vision of a digital future where girls and young women can also lead the way, where ICT becomes an inclusive pathway to success, and where the Pacific region stands as a shining example of innovation and progress. Together, we can make this vision a reality.

Thank you for your unwavering support, and I look forward to the productive discussions and commitments that await us today.