“Achieving Equality in ICTS for Women and Girls: Issues, Opportunities and Challenges” is the theme of the panel discussion to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day celebrated on May 17. The panel discussion which features Hon. Julian Robinson, Minister of State, Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining takes place at 6 pm at the Executive Seminar Room, Faculty of Law, UWI, Mona.  Other panelists on the occasion are: Kay Osborne, Management and Communication Consultant, Jennifer Williams, Director, Policy and Research, Bureau of Women’s Affair and Dr. Dhanaraj Thakur, Lecturer, Department of Government, UWI, Mona.  The event is organized by the Telecommunications Policy and Management (TPM) Programme at UWI, Mona.
 
The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is designed to help raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICT) can bring to societies and economies, as well as of ways to bridge the digital divide. May 17 marks the anniversary of the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention and the creation of the International Telecommunication Union. The theme of this year’s WTISD, “Women and Girls in ICT”, aims to ensure that this vulnerable female half of the world’s population will march forward as equals.
 
The Telecommunications Policy and Management (TPM) Programme, Mona School of Business, UWI was established in 2005 with the aim of conducting research, providing educational opportunities and engaging in the provision of consultancy services in support of the regional telecoms and ICT sector. TPM is also heavily engaged in research on Broadband, Mobile Telephony and ICT policy both nationally and globally.
 
The university community and public are invited to attend the event. For more information on the panel discussion interested persons may telephone 977-4649.