Executive Director of the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication Vusal Gasimli delivered an opening speech at the conference titled “Girls in ICT” held in Azerbaijan.

The conference was jointly organized by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication, the Association of Azerbaijani Women in ICT - FEMMES DIGITALES, B.EST Solution, and Bloom Group.

Vusal Gasimli said that on the occasion of Girls in ICT (ICT) Day, which is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of April, the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) emphasizes the importance of promoting career opportunities in technology for girls and women in the world's fastest-growing sector.

Girls and young women learning coding, application development, and computer science will not only be able to build successful careers in the ICT sector. At the same time, in comparison with other areas, where ICT knowledge can be distinguished, they will get a rapidly growing major advantage provided to students. The integration of different educational subjects can further enrich students. Based on this idea, girls can be encouraged to use their interest in technology to express their creative and artistic talents. It is important to increase the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) skills and knowledge of young women. In Azerbaijan, women make 81.0 percent of teachers in general education institutions, 77.9 percent in secondary special education institutions, 54.8 percent in higher education institutions, and two-thirds of doctors. 46.4% of students in general education institutions, 62.4% of students in secondary special education institutions, 48.9% of students in higher education institutions are girls.

Women in Azerbaijan also have an exceptional role in the development of science. 58.1% of researchers are women. Over the past 10 years, the number of women with a doctorate has increased 2.6 times, and with Ph.D. - 2.3 times. 7 full members and 10 corresponding members of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences are women.

Azerbaijani women take an active part in the socio-economic life of the country, and their share in the total employed population, according to preliminary data, is 48.2 percent. The share of women in the civil service is 29.0 percent, and among entrepreneurs - 21.3 percent. The share of w