An illustration with silhouettes of women on a background of computer motherboards.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) strives to be a model organization for gender equality, utilizing Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to empower both women and men.
Photo:ITU

Closing the gender digital divide unlocks opportunity for all

Digital technologies have the power to accelerate progress across every sector of society, yet that potential remains out of reach for many. Of the 2.6 billion people still unconnected, the majority are women and girls. Gaps in access and affordability of the internet and digital devices, as well as limited digital skills, continue to hinder the participation of women and girls in today’s economy and in shaping tomorrow’s digital solutions. Bridging this divide is essential to unlocking new pathways for economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development. 

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) 2025 highlights the pressing need to advance digital gender equality, so that women and girls everywhere can also benefit from and contribute to digital transformation. 

As the world marks 30 years since the Beijing Platform for Action, the Day is a critical moment to accelerate collective action that ensures digital transformation delivers opportunity for everyone, everywhere.  

ITU’s 160th Anniversary

WTISD also marks the founding of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) – the United Nations agency for digital technologies. In 2025, ITU commemorates its 160th anniversary, highlighting its long-standing role in advancing global connectivity and fostering international cooperation. To support your outreach, explore our advocacy kit featuring shareable content for both #ITU160 and #WTISD, along with information on the ITU160 Gender Champions initiative.


Join us on 17 May for 160 Years of Technology for Humanity – a special lightshow projected onto the iconic ITU Tower at the Place des Nations in Geneva — also streamed live on ITU’s social media platforms.

Learn more about the ITU 160 Lightshow

Background

The purpose of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. 17 May marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

History

World Telecommunication Day

World Telecommunication Day 1969 poster

World Telecommunication Day has been celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969, marking the founding of ITU and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865. It was instituted by the Plenipotentiary Conference in Malaga-Torremolinos in 1973 as Resolution 46.

World Information Society Day

In November 2005, the World Summit on the Information Society called upon the UN General Assembly to declare 17 May as World Information Society Day to focus on the importance of ICT and the wide range of issues related to the Information Society raised by WSIS. The General Assembly adopted a resolution (A/RES/60/252) in March 2006 stipulating that World Information Society Day shall be celebrated every year on 17 May.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

In November 2006, the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Antalya, Turkey, decided to celebrate both events on 17 May as World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The updated Resolution 68 invites Member States and Sector Members to celebrate the day annually by organizing appropriate national programmes with a view to:

  • stimulating reflection and exchanges of ideas on the theme adopted by the Council
  • debating the various aspects of the theme with all partners in society
  • formulating a report reflecting national discussions on the issues underlying the theme, to be fed back to ITU and the rest of its membership

Global momentum in 2025

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, a global blueprint for advancing women’s rights. The Beijing+30 Action Agenda includes targeted actions to close the digital gender gap — from expanding digital infrastructure to increasing representation in tech leadership.

ITU’s work aligns closely with these efforts through its initiatives, resolutions, and partnerships including:

  • Resolution 70 and Gender Equality and Mainstreaming (GEM) policy and action plan
  • The EQUALS Partnership, co-founded by ITU, the United Nations University (UNU), UN Women, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and GSMA in 2016 
  • Girls in ICT Day, reaching 377,000+ participants in 171 countries since launching in 2011 
  • Projects in LDCs enhancing digital skills and entrepreneurship for women 
  • Programmes like Women in Cybersecurity, Girls Can Code, and Talking Tech 
  • The Network of Women in ITU-D, ITU-R and ITU-T. 
Learn more about gender equality at ITU

Listen

A professional microphone and a title: ITU podcasts - Technology for good

Technology for Good - is an ITU series that focuses on how technology is helping to shape the world around us.

Resources

Useful websites

Documents

Related events

Illustrations of two women.

Achieving gender equality in the digital world requires collective action. Whether you shape policy, build technology, teach, lead, or advocate, your voice matters. Explore how you can get involved this WTISD and help drive inclusive digital transformation.

Girls performing an experiment.
an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.