On April 21, 2026, WECAN hosted "Indigenous Women Resisting Extraction and Building a Just Transition" during the 25th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (#UNPFII). Speakers shared updates on campaigns defending Indigenous territories from extraction, discussed the impacts of colonization, fossil fuels, mining, and climate disruption. They also showcased community projects for Just Transition and climate resilience, offering strategies grounded in rights, traditional knowledge, and sovereignty.

Our gratitude goes to the extraordinary Indigenous women leaders and advocates from Cameroon, Ecuador, Peru, and Turtle Island/USA. Their powerful voices highlighted critical issues and solutions.

For more details on WECAN’s advocacy and highlights from the UNPFII session, please visit our blog: tinyurl.com/WECAN-UNPFII2026-blog

The fight for an ancestral future continues. On April 28, Colombia hosted the first day of high-level dialogues for the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.

Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation), Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member, along with Osprey Orielle Lake, WECAN Executive Director and GARN Executive Committee member, are on the ground in Santa Marta. They are advocating for a fossil fuel phaseout and a Just Transition.

On April 25, 2026, the Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the Women's Fossil Fuel Phaseout Forum in Santa Marta, Colombia. Titled "Halting Extraction and Advancing a Just Transition," this significant event took place ahead of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, showcasing WECAN's advocacy.

The forum featured two crucial panels. "No Extraction in the Amazon" highlighted Indigenous women leaders, including Aura Tegria and President Olivia Bisa Tirko, protecting forests and communities. A keynote by Susana Muhamad, Special Envoy to the Fossil Fuel Treaty, preceded "Women in Action for a Just Transition," which brought together activists like Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco and Xiye Bastida. The event underscored diverse women's leadership in global climate action.

Solo sailor Ellen MacArthur's circumnavigation of the globe provided profound insights into the world's finite resources and interconnected cycles. Her journey highlighted how today's decisions directly impact future availability.

Based on this understanding, MacArthur proposes a bold new vision for economic systems. She advocates for a circular economy, moving away from linear models, where resources are continuously reused and regenerated, ensuring sustainability for generations to come.

The ITU Global Celebration of Girls in ICT Day 2026 will be co-hosted by the Americas and Europe regions.

This event is scheduled for 23 April, taking place in Brasilia, Brazil, and Tirana, Albania.

In 2012, 14-year-old Laura Dekker embarked on a 518-day solo journey to circumnavigate the globe, aiming to become the youngest person to achieve this feat. Filmmaker Jillian Schlesinger documented her remarkable voyage, which is featured in the full-length documentary "Maidentrip."

Following the route her parents took two decades earlier through French Polynesia, Dekker successfully completed her journey. She currently holds the record as the youngest person to sail around the world by herself.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, delivers a video message.

This special address commemorates Girls in ICT Day 2026.

The ITU Space Connect initiative presents "Girls & Space: Pathways to the Stars" (Session E3). This program aims to inspire young women, encouraging their engagement and participation in the burgeoning space industry.

It highlights diverse opportunities and career paths within the sector, fostering a new generation of female leaders and innovators in space exploration and technology.

On March 31, 2026, the Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the "Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout." This virtual global event gathered diverse women leaders, policymakers, and advocates to discuss challenges and solutions for an equitable transition away from fossil fuels, in preparation for a historic government meeting in Colombia. Learn more about the assembly here.

WECAN Executive Director Osprey Orielle Lake delivered the opening keynote, followed by a powerful panel, "Women on the Frontlines: Ending Extraction of People and Planet," featuring Indigenous leaders and climate activists from around the globe.

Additionally, explore WECAN's report on the gendered and racial impacts of the fossil fuel industry here.

On March 31, 2026, the Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the "Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout." This virtual event gathered diverse women leaders, policymakers, and advocates to discuss equitable transition solutions, preparing for a historic government meeting in Colombia. Details: WECAN Assembly

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, delivered a powerful intervention. The "Government Leaders For A Fossil Fuel Phaseout" panel followed, co-hosted by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative and Parliamentarians For a Fossil-Free Future, featuring diverse global leaders.

Further WECAN reports: "Prioritizing Care Work Can Unlock a Just Transition for All" (Care Report); "How Local Community Power is Central to a Just Renewable Energy Shift" (Renewable Energy Report).

On March 31, 2026, the Women’s Earth and Climate Network (WECAN) hosted the virtual “Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout.” This strategic global event brought together diverse women leaders, policymakers, and advocates to discuss challenges and solutions for an equitable transition away from fossil fuels, in preparation for a historic government meeting in Colombia.

The Assembly featured a panel titled “Building a Just Transition,” with speakers including Tasneem Essop, Mela Chiponda, and Eriel Tchekwie Deranger. Actress and activist Alysia Reiner also delivered an intervention, and Osprey Orielle Lake provided closing remarks. Learn more: wecaninternational.org/woma-2026

WECAN is hosting the "Women’s Momentum Assembly for a Just Fossil Fuel Phaseout," a virtual global assembly bringing together diverse women leaders. This event precedes the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels and is a strategic preparation for an historic government meeting in Colombia.

During the assembly, policymakers, frontline leaders, and advocates will discuss challenges and successful solutions for an equitable path to end the fossil fuel era. For interpretation in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English, join the live Zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oUL1y0NKQNaM44gvYwM7OA

This ITU Tech Monthly episode explores how digital skills empower women entrepreneurs in Nigeria. It features Maryam Lawan, founder of Blue Sapphire Hub, whose "Women on Wednesday" project won an EQUALS in Tech Award for Leadership in SMEs, recognized at Mobile World Congress Barcelona in March 2026 (https://www.equalsintech.org/post/equals-in-tech-awards-at-mwc-26-meet-the-winners). The discussion highlights how digital upskilling, mentorship, and investment access drive growth for women-led businesses.

The episode also examines how emerging technologies and supportive digital ecosystems foster inclusive economic participation for women. This reflects the work of the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age in advancing digital skills and inclusion.

Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at ITU, has issued a video message.

This message commemorates International Girls in ICT Day 2026.

Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) at ITU, has released a special video message.

This message commemorates International Girls in ICT Day 2026, emphasizing the importance of empowering girls and young women in information and communication technologies.

The ITU Future Innovators podcast presents 'Voices That Lead: Women Shaping ITU', featuring women in diverse roles sharing their journeys, achievements, and hopes as digital transformation drivers. Host Rebecca Mzungu Saeluzika interviews Elizabeth Locatelli, Mehtap Dufour, May Thi Aye, Susan Teltscher, and Harisa Shahid, exploring their work's impact and career milestones. Essential for those interested in women's leadership in global digital policy. Listen and subscribe!

ITU, the UN agency for digital technologies, drives innovation with 194 Member States and nearly 900 private sector/academic partners. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates global radio spectrum, promotes satellite orbit cooperation, improves communication infrastructure, and sets worldwide standards to connect the world.

Find the audio episodes on: Spotify | Apple | Soundcloud

Izabela Iglewska, Minister Advisor at Poland's Ministry of Digital Affairs and the ITU-T Regional Representative for Europe for the Network of Women (NoW), discusses the vital role of the Network of Women in telecommunication standardization.

For more details, visit: itu.int/go/NOWT

Over the past 20 years, youth incarceration has plummeted by 75% as states closed prisons and reformed policies. In her new book, *In Our Future We Are Free*, journalist Nell Bernstein dissects this transformation. She chronicles the forces that moved us from a "moral panic" to a time when youth prisons are rapidly fading.

Bernstein's book highlights the pivotal role of imprisoned youth, mothers, activists, and even prison officials in challenging the "racist brutality of youth prisons" and closing institutions. Join Nell Bernstein and moderator Chesa Boudin to learn how this coalition reformed a "racist and destructive institution" and what other social movements can learn from their struggle.

Discover the latest highlights from the Network of Women in ITU-D.

These concise summaries showcase their key activities and achievements from 2023 through 2025.