In recognition of her work for empowering women in the field of technology, the Pakistani Minster for State for Information Technology, Anusha Rahman, has been awarded the “GEM-Tech Global Achievers 2015” award.
A lawyer by profession, Anusha Rahman became the in-charge of the federal Information Technology and Telecommunication Ministry in 2013 and is the only woman in the federal cabinet. She is known for initiating a number of projects and programmes, profoundly impacting the ICT sector in Pakistan. Particularly, she has enhanced the role of women in the sector and enabled women in general to benefit from ICT. Among these programs, there is one for disadvantaged girls giving them access to learning computer science and economic opportunities and another one which is a startup incubator program, offering mentorship, commercial, legal and financial help for young people and especially, young women.
“In my own capacity, we focussed our work on the most disadvantaged of women and our young girls and to provide them the opportunities that they well and truly deserve,” said Anusha Rahman in an interview. “Women are the architects of our society and women employment using ICT is the lever of economic progress.”
Out of 150 individuals and organizations nominated from 55 countries around the world, Rahman was one of the three winners for the award of “GEM-Tech Global Achievers 2015”. The other winners included Pamela Hamamoto, the US ambassador to the United Nations, and Nancy Hafkin, Senior Associate at Women in Global Science and Technology.
“Today I stand here as one of the millions of emancipated women of Pakistan who undoubtedly if provided the right opportunities are capable of rising to any level of success. I dedicate this award to the people of Pakistan, specially the young girls and women of my country,” said the Minister, when invited to speak at the ceremony.
“I dedicate this award to the people of Pakistan, specially the young girls and women of my country,” she said.
The GEM-Tech event, organized jointly by two United Nation organizations, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Women, was hosted alongside the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, USA. Promoting the tagline of “Gender Equality and Mainstreaming”, it recognizes the role of individuals in empowering women in the field of Information Communication Technology.
