Excellencies,
Distinguished colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me personally and for the Permanent Mission of Albania to join you today at this side event organized in the context of the seventieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Achieving gender equality is not simply one objective among many,  it is a cross-cutting foundation for sustainable development, peace, and inclusive societies. Yet despite decades of progress, millions of women and girls around the world continue to face systemic barriers that limit their full participation in economic, political, and social life.

In this context, the role of the United Nations system is indispensable. The complexity of today’s challenges requires coordinated responses that bring together the expertise, mandates, and resources of different UN entities.

In this context the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) demonstrate how collaboration across the UN system can help translate global commitments into concrete action. By bringing together different agencies, UNGIS provides a platform through which digital transformation can be harnessed in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of women and girls.

The digital gender divide remains a significant global challenge. Women and girls in many parts of the world continue to have less access to connectivity, digital devices, education in science and technology, and opportunities within the digital economy. Beyond access, women also face disproportionate risks in digital spaces, including online harassment, abuse, and technology-facilitated violence, which can discourage participation and silence important voices.

Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action across multiple sectors: education, development, governance, human rights, and technology. This is precisely where the strength of the United Nations system lies, in its ability to bring together diverse expertise and to promote integrated responses that support national efforts.

At the same time, achieving real progress requires that gender perspectives are fully integrated across all areas of policy,  including digital governance. Women and girls must not be seen only as beneficiaries of digital transformation, but as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers shaping the digital future.

Investing in digital literacy and STEM education for girls, promoting women’s leadership in technology sectors, supporting women entrepreneurs in the digital economy, and ensuring safe and inclusive digital spaces are essential components of this effort.

Importantly, when we speak about leaving no one behind, we must also recognize the diversity of experiences among women and girls. Those living in rural areas, those with disabilities, migrants, minorities, and women facing economic marginalization often encounter multiple and intersecting barriers. Policies and programs must therefore be designed with inclusion and accessibility at their core.

The implementation of the World Summit on the Information Society +20 Review is particularly important in the context of women and girls because it ensures that the global digital transformation contributes to gender equality rather than reinforcing existing inequalities. In practice, effective implementation requires the transmition of  international commitments into concrete policies, programs, and partnerships that expand opportunities for women and girls in the digital age.

This is why system-wide cooperation within the United Nations is so valuable. By aligning efforts across agencies and initiatives, we can ensure that policies are more coherent, resources are used more effectively, and solutions are better tailored to the realities faced by women and girls on the ground.

Thank you.