 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to send greetings to the 2017 Equals in Tech Award organized by the International Telecommunication Union and UN Women. These awards recognize projects and programs worldwide that empower women and girls through information and communications technology. New technologies are creating boundless opportunities to enhance the quality of human life. They need to be available to all for the benefit of all. Our sustainable future depends on bridging the digital gender divide, bringing women and girls to technology and technology to women and girls. Equal access will deliver significant benefits to society as a whole and support the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Governments and businesses have a key role to play in reducing the digital gender gap, but they cannot do it alone. Each of us is responsible as parents, educators and peers. Let us work together to overcome social bias and stereotypes and empower role models who can inspire girls and women everywhere. This is a key priority for the Secretary General. To that end, he has launched a UN system-wide gender parity strategy. The goal of parity will ensure that we further equality institutionally while also reaping the benefits of diversity and innovation. Today, structural inequalities and bias impede women's full participation in all regions and in all areas, including the digital economy. Greater access to information and communications technology will have a profound positive effect in women's lives. That is why these awards are really important. I congratulate the nominees and winners of the 2017 Equals in Tech Awards, and I thank you for your inspiring work, and I wish you all great success. Thank you.