Director-General's remarks at the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union

160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union
Saturday, 17 May 2025, at 8.00 p.m.
Montbrillant Restaurant, ITU

Secretary-General [ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin]
Ms. AlBalawi [Ms Shahad AlBalawi, International Representation Director, Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST)]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure to join you all this evening to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union. My sincere thanks to Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin for inviting me to celebrate with you and to share a few reflections.

As the oldest of the UN agencies, the International Telecommunication Union is a trailblazer of international cooperation. In 1865, representatives from 20 states gathered in Paris for the International Telegraph Conference, aiming to overcome common challenges in telegraphy and improve service efficiency. The resulting International Telegraph Convention laid the legal foundation of the International Telegraph Union - the first incarnation of the ITU - and outlined key norms for communication, including the right of all people to use international telegraph services.

This kind of international cooperation was groundbreaking and set the scene for the global system of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, that we rely on today.

For the past 160 years, humanity has seen leaps and bounds in the field of communication technologies. And through it all, ITU has been at the forefront, facilitating global cooperation, sharing knowledge, breaking down silos, and overcoming obstacles. This work is often carried out in close partnership with other UN entities, Member States, the private sector, academia and more.

From promoting affordable access to technology to building cybersecurity resilience, from capacity-building to setting international standards, from advocating for gender equality in STEM to enabling access to the information society for all, from AI to quantum technology, ITU and its dedicated staff work tirelessly to ensure that the benefits of digital innovation reach everyone.

ITU is also a pillar of International Geneva, and a shining example of how the work undertaken here has a real and lasting impact on people’s lives around the world, every hour and every day.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge the difficult time we face, as a family here in Geneva and as a broader international community. The foundation of modern multilateralism faces immense strain, and this is affecting every one of us.

But in moments like these, I also encourage us to reflect on how far multilateralism has come and how much we have achieved together. Multilateralism makes meaningful differences in people’s lives. Sometimes in small, quiet, incremental ways, and sometimes in transformative ones. But always a difference.

In 160 years, ITU has made an indelible impact on our world. And as we look to the future, excited by new technologies and encouraged by new initiatives such as the Global Digital Compact, I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Thank you.