The 11 October International Day of the Girl Child Conference, organized since 2015 in cooperation with UNICEF, UNFPA, UN Women and Aydın Doğan Foundation, aiming to draw attention to the obstacles that prevent girls from reaching their full potential, will take place in a mixed face-to-face and online manner this year due to the pandemic conditions and will be broadcast live from Youtube. At the conference, where the global and regional needs of girls and young women will be addressed by expanding its scope for 2021, it is also aimed to strengthen the work done in this field in the Europe and Central Asia (AOA) Region. Participants, including regional, national, and international experts, well-known names in their fields, and young people, will draw attention to the potential, motivation, and skills of today's girls to lead the digital age. The conference will focus on how today's young women and girls participate in the age of digital interaction and education, how they fight stereotypes and defend their rights to empower and lead. The keynote speaker of the conference will be Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
Vuslat Doğan Sabancı: “We must support the process of girls leading in the digital world”
Aydın Doğan Foundation Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Vuslat Doğan Sabancı stated that the education of young girls is the main mission of the Foundation and that they aim for a world where girls become stronger and lead in all matters, and said, "Thanks to the efforts made, many progress has been made in protecting and supporting the rights of women and girls. However, despite all the positive developments, inequalities for girls continue to exist in many parts of the world. We are witnessing that girls are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. We know that there is a 17 percent gender gap in internet users worldwide. Most of the jobs will soon require high-tech skills and countries around the world, including Turkey, will need more digital talent. However, today's digital inequality poses a serious problem for access of young girls and women where the labor market increasingly demands digital skills and knowledge. The key to bridging this gap is to remove common prejudices against young girls pursuing science and IT-related subjects. To ensure that no one is left behind, we must equip our girls with skills so they can have more opportunities. We must also use all our strength to keep this very important issue on the agenda. We must support the process of girls leading in the digital world. Despite all these negativities, we do not despair and we always keep in mind that this is a marathon. We are aware of the power of girls and we continue to support them so that they can become leaders in the digital age, even in extraordinary times such as the pandemic.
UNICEF Turkey Representative Regina De Dominicis said: “Despite many global challenges, girls stand on their feet and demand change. Girls from all over the world are strong advocates for their rights to education, raising their voices against violence, fighting for global and social justice, and becoming leaders of change for their communities. Given the opportunities, environments, and skills to participate, the 600 million teenage girls of today's world can become the largest group of female leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators the world has ever seen. Now is the time to continue investing in the development of girls and to ensure that they can take advantage of the opportunities brought by the digital age. At a time when scientific and technological solutions are advancing rapidly and transforming societies and economies, we cannot afford to exclude half of the talent that exists in the world. Now is the time to work in partnership with the public and private sectors, civil society, and youth whenever possible. At UNICEF, we are proud to work for and with girls as they evolve into entrepreneurial and innovative leaders.”
Hassan Mohtashami, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Turkey Representative, said, “As UNFPA, we advocate for the empowerment of girls and supporting their leadership in the digital world so that young people can realize their full potential and build a better world, especially regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights. In addition, we know that a girl who is aware of her skills against cyberbullying and digital violence and who learns to take control of her own body will not only be the leader of her own life but also contribute to a more free, equal, and safe world. We will continue to fight for gender equality without leaving anyone behind in the digital age," he said.
Asya Varbanova, UN Women Country Director, said, “Information and communication technologies (ICT) are a very important part of our lives in the 21st century, from education and training to access to information and services, from decent work to maintaining social ties. Girls' access to these technologies, their full use of these technologies, and their full control over these technologies play an important role in ensuring that they are not left behind. We need multi-stakeholder and inclusive solutions, involving youth, civil society, governments, and the private sector, to ensure equal access for women and girls to digital technology and opportunities. Thus, we can pave the way for the leadership of women and girls in designing innovative technologies,” she said.
Young people and stakeholders will meet both face-to-face and online
As part of the International Day of the Girl Child Conference, which will take place in a mixed face-to-face and online manner due to the pandemic conditions, young people and stakeholders will come together in a series of events that will start at 16.00 and last until 18.30. The conference will include panels with young representatives, famous names and experts, a youth statement prepared by young people, videos of well-known names and experts from the region and their messages. The first panel, “Empowering Girls in the Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges” will be discussed, and in the second panel, “Digital Fields and Skills for Promoting Gender Equality” will be discussed in depth.
For information: Tuğba Altun / ÜNİTE Edelman (212) 272 93 13 | [email protected]; www.unite.com.tr