Women across the world continue to face major challenges in the digital sphere, including cyberbullying, harassment, and gender-targeted crimes, which restrict their full participation in shaping digital societies. While artificial intelligence holds the potential to create safer online environments, the lack of equal access and participation by women in its development risks embedding existing biases into future technologies. According to the International Telecommunication Union, women make up only 22% of the global AI workforce, reflecting their underrepresentation across the wider technology ecosystem. Without active involvement of women in building AI solutions, the future digital economy may replicate stereotypes of the past instead of breaking them.
To address this critical gap, GSMA’s Diversity4Tech initiative has launched a global call for contributions from women technology leaders, academics, and innovators. The campaign, announced in line with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day celebrated on 17 May 2025, draws inspiration from the theme of International Women’s Day, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” The focus is on amplifying women’s voices in technology through submissions of articles, research papers, case studies, opinion pieces, videos, or podcasts. Contributors are encouraged to share insights on creating digital trust and empowering women with inclusive AI, exploring both the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead.
Submissions are expected to highlight pressing issues such as gaps in current online safety measures, strategies to integrate AI for detecting and preventing digital harassment, and the importance of governing AI technologies with ethical frameworks. Contributors are also invited to address the need for increasing women’s representation in technology and AI sectors, as well as approaches to eliminate gender bias within datasets that shape these technologies. By inviting these perspectives, GSMA emphasizes the importance of ensuring that women not only benefit from AI-driven innovation but also play an active role in building and directing it.
Entries can be submitted to Natasha Nayak, Senior Policy Manager at GSMA, at nnayak@gsma.com. Accepted contributions will be published on the GSMA blog, offering participants a platform to share their expertise with a global audience. In recognition of outstanding submissions, the top three entries will be honored with the Women Digital Leadership Awards, to be presented at the GSMA Digital Nation Summit ASEAN on September 23-24 in Kuala Lumpur. The initiative aims to not only recognize women leaders in AI and digital trust but also foster a more inclusive and balanced digital ecosystem for future generations.
Source: GSMA
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