 April 25th is Girls and ICT Day. This year we're focused on leadership and how the international community can support women and girls everywhere to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Leadership is so much more than holding a job title or a position of power. It's about harnessing the power of ideas and innovation and the ability to navigate change with confidence, whether you're a student, entrepreneur, or head of state. Our shared digital future needs women leaders who are not just technologically skilled, but visionaries with a voice to advocate for a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable world online and offline. As we continue to witness unprecedented digital transformation with the rise of AI and other emerging technologies, we simply cannot afford to keep leaving half the world's population behind. Right now, just 21% of all ICT ministers are women and only 32 out of 165 ICT regulators are led by a woman. In the highest positions of government, gender equality will not be reached for another 130 years. In the private sector, women technologists occupy less than a third of positions and face a pay gap of 21%. Just 22% of AI workers globally are women and the hiring rate of women in tech leadership roles has stalled. When we look at C-suite roles in STEM, just one in eight is held by a woman. I think it's high time to turn all of this around. To all the young girls out there, the tech sector needs you. Your ideas, creativity, and perspectives are essential if gender equality is to become a reality. We need you to step into leading roles, to challenge stereotypes, and to contribute to building a digital future that benefits everyone. To the international community, let's empower and encourage more young women than ever to step up into the world of STEM. Let's invest in their education, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities so that they can not only succeed but thrive as digital trailblazers. Let's celebrate, support, and inspire our girls on Girls in ICT Day and every day because they are the leaders of our digital tomorrow.