International Day of the Girl is celebrated on October 11th each year to recognise the significance of gender equality. It is all about empowering girls to use their voices to fight for equal opportunities, whether it’s to do with jobs, healthcare or education. Each year, the theme changes in order to focus on a different issue regarding gender discrimination. This year the theme is digital access.

When it comes to digital access, the gender gap is huge, and many girls around the world don’t have access to the technology vital for them to succeed. Technology is massively improving people’s lives, opening doors and sadly, leaving behind many girls. Girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore half of the world’s potential. The United Nations described this generation of girls as “poised to become the largest generation of female leaders.”

That is why this years digital access theme is so important, since it will raise awareness of this important issue and awareness is the first of many steps necessary for improvement. We should promote closure of the gender gap. Digital access shouldn’t be limited only to boys from certain parts of the world or the privileged few.