UN Women and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announce the launch of the 2015 Gender Equality and Mainstreaming in Technology (GEM-TECH) Awards nominations. This year, the global community commits to a new UN framework for sustainable development for the next 15 years and in the current draft, the use of ICTs is included as an important means of implementing gender equality commitments. The year 2015 also marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action. The GEM-TECH Awards are an opportunity to highlight ways in which women’s meaningful access, use and development of technology can be achieved and to inform thinking and investments as we look forward.
“If we want to end gender inequality by 2030, we need to use all the tools at our disposal, aim for bold and transformative changes and ensure that women are leaders in critical 21st century sectors. ICTs hold incredible promise and influence. We must do our utmost to accelerate their positive application for gender equality and to achieve equality within the technology sector itself. We look to GEM-TECH for exactly this focus and inspiration,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.The 2015 awards will focus on the following three (3) categories: Application of Technology for Women’s Empowerment: Recognizing applications of technology across all sectors, and particularly the pillars of the Beijing Platform for Action, for the empowerment of women and to achieve gender equality. Women in the Technology Sector: Recognizing success in the promotion of girls and women as creators, drivers, leaders and decision-makers in the technology sector. Gender-Responsive Technology Governance, Policy and Access: Recognizing efforts to bridge the gender digital divide through strategies, policies and regulations that ensure enabling and foundational factors such as access, connectivity, security, digital literacy and citizenship, and more advanced skills-development are gender-responsive. Deadline: July 31, 2015 Apply here: Gem-Tech Awards