The International Day ‘Girls in ICT’ is an initiative backed up by the Member States of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of information and communication technologies (ICTs).International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated on the 4th Thursday in April every year. On 25 April 2013, Brussels will host one of the events, co-organised by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the ITU. As part of the event, the European Commission will host a lunch meeting in the European Parliament, in collaboration with the European Internet Foundation. The occasion will be the Awards Ceremony of Tech needs Girls, an ITU initiative.The lunch meeting will be followed by an hearing in the European Parliament on Women in ICT, focusing on women in ICT careers and on skills development. 12:30-14:30 - LUNCH MEETING - 25/04/201312:30 Registration 13:00 Standing buffet lunch 13:30 Welcome by:Pilar del Castillo, MEP and EIF ChairWelcome by:Roberto Viola, Deputy Director-General, DG Communications Networks, Content and Technology, European CommissionRemarks by:Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication UnionTech needs Girls Awards Ceremony Closing remarks by:Pilar del Castillo, MEP and EIF Chair15:00-17:30 - HEARING ON WOMEN IN ICT - 25/04/2013Jozsef Antall Building, Room 6Q2Hearing:The hearing is co-organised by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM).Key points of the discussion will include: the stereotypical portrayal of girls and women in the media, industry's responsibility for driving the change in the ICT sector, digital skills, and the business case for getting more women to work in ICT.