 The sim this year is Planet 5050 by 2030, step it up for gender equality. This offers us a welcome opportunity to reflect on how to accelerate the 2030 agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new sustainable development goals. The sim is especially relevant in the field of information and communication technologies. As we now live in a world where over 95% of our jobs now have a digital component. At ITU, the United Nations Specialized Agency for ICTs, we take the issue of gender equality very seriously. And my fellow directors and I are fully committed to helping reduce all aspects of gender imbalance in the tech sector. Across our work, and especially through international girls in ICT Day, celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday in April, we aim to be a major force in promoting and increasing opportunities for women and girls in ICT careers. On a personal level, I'm proud to be one of the founding members of the Geneva Gender Champions Initiative, which was launched by the Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, Mr. Michael Muller, and U.S. Ambassador, Madam Pamela Hamamoto. As ITU's Secretary General, and as Geneva Gender Champion, I have personally committed to the partner parity pledge by adopting positive measures to improve gender balance among ITU staff, and encouraging gender balance among delegates attending ITU conferences and meetings. Let me therefore encourage each and every one of you to make your own effort to support the goal of achieving Planet 5050 by 2030 as part of International Women's Day 2016.