New Delhi: The ITU-WTSA 2024 conference in Delhi, in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), witnessed a landmark event yesterday focused on promoting gender diversity in telecommunications standardization. The special event, The Network of Women in Standards (NoW), spearheaded by the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T), reinforced the commitment to advancing women’s leadership roles in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and standardization.
This initiative holds particular significance for India, as the government implements various measures to create an inclusive technology sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocates for women-led development, and India is making notable strides with an increasing number of women co-founders in startups and over 40% of participants in STEM education being women. Noteworthy initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi, Bank Sakhi, and Mahila E-Haat empower women to take on leadership roles in technology.
Aligned with WTSA Resolution 55 (Rev. Geneva, 2022), NoW aims to foster active female participation in standardization activities, ensuring a gender-inclusive approach across all ITU-T processes. As the global push for digital inclusion accelerates, the role of women in shaping the future of technology becomes increasingly critical.
In her opening remarks, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU, emphasized the importance of addressing gender imbalances in the field. She stated, “We can, and we must, increase the number of women in leadership roles, especially in our standards study groups. It’s crucial for women to step up, take the floor, and make their voices heard. This is what the Network of Women stands for—creating an environment where women feel empowered and supported.” She highlighted the significance of mentorship in this transformation, stating, “If there is no seat at the table, we must bring our own chair—and bring one more for those who will follow.”
Dr. Rim Belhassine-Cherif, Chair of NoW, ITU-T, and Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer at Tunisie Télécom, noted the progress made in achieving gender balance at ITU-WTSA 2024. “One of the key objectives of ITU-WTSA 2024 was to promote gender-balanced delegations and increase the number of women in leadership roles, particularly as heads of delegations,” she said. “Through various initiatives, we have achieved the highest-ever participation rate of women in ITU-WTSA history.”
The involvement of women in ICT standardization is vital, especially as disruptive technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerge. Women’s contributions can help ensure the development of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable standards that drive technological progress for the benefit of all humanity.
The event featured a dynamic fireside chat, moderated by Bogdan-Martin, with Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, Burkina Faso, and Neha Satak, Founder & CEO of Astrome. The discussion centered on closing the gender gap in STEM and standardization, emphasizing the need for a supportive environment and early capacity building to encourage girls to pursue careers in tech.
Expert panelists examined challenges surrounding gender equality in AI, discussing how technical standards can support inclusive AI and address gender bias. The session, moderated by Susan Ferguson, UN Women India Representative, included insights from distinguished panelists such as Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Vishnu Ram, Dr. Alessandra Sala, Dr. Ebtesam Almazrouei, and Pico Velazquez.
The session also recognized leading women in ITU Standardization. Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, and Madhu Arora, Member of the Technology/Digital Communication Commission, Government of India, felicitated notable women in the field for their contributions. Additionally, member states from Cameroon, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and several European countries were recognized for their high female participation rates in delegations.