The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is once again championing youth empowerment by focusing on digital skills development and ICT-enabled employment opportunities at the 20th Asia Media Summit (AMS), taking place from July 21 to 24, 2025 in Siem Reap.
The summit, which has gathered journalists and media professionals from 26 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, has provided a platform for discussions on the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in shaping the future of youth employment and digital entrepreneurship.
At the forefront of ITU’s initiatives is “Generation Connect”, a programme designed to engage young people as equal partners in the ongoing digital transformation.
The objective was made clear: To empower youth with the skills and opportunities necessary to thrive in the digital economy and ensure they are active participants in shaping a connected and inclusive future.
This year’s event is co-organised by the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, with support from ITU and the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD).
The summit includes a key workshop led by information minister Neth Pheaktra who opened a session on strengthening the digital capabilities of youth in Cambodia’s ICT sector.
“Young people in Cambodia are now more aware of technology, with smartphones in their hands,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of the ethical use of technology, particularly in the age of rampant social media scams and cyberbullying.
“What I highlighted during the seminar, which was attended by students, is that while embracing technology, they must also use it responsibly — ethically, without causing harm or breaking the law,” said Pheaktra.
This session underlined the importance of both media and digital literacy to help protect youth from online threats and ensure they use technology responsibly.
He stressed that young people need to protect themselves from social media scams, which have become increasingly widespread.
“Using information technology properly also means respecting the rights of others. Cyberbullying — an attack on individuals via social media — can severely affect victims’ mental health and even lead to suicide,” he warned.
Pheaktra noted that media literacy and digital literacy are essential safeguards to help individuals protect themselves and use technology responsibly.
A key element of ITU’s youth strategy is the celebration of International Girls in ICT Day, an annual event that encourages young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with a particular emphasis on ICT.
While traditionally focusing on ICT career pathways for girls, this year’s event in Cambodia has expanded its reach.
“It aims to equip youth — especially young women — with the necessary digital skills to succeed in the fast-evolving digital world, ensuring at least 50% female participation in all activities,” according to the ITU’s Youth Digital Empowerment Workshop and Girls in ICT Day Cambodia 2025.
Representatives from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN Country Team are taking part, along with representatives of government institutions.
In addition, teachers and students aged 12-24 years from schools across Cambodia, with a minimum of 50% female participation, are also participating.
The significance of these initiatives becomes more apparent when considering the digital divide faced by many young people in low-income countries, where nearly 30% of the rural population remains unconnected.
This divide disproportionately affects girls and women, limiting their access to education, economic and social opportunities.
To bridge this gap, ITU’s Girls in ICT Day Cambodia 2025 is focused on giving Cambodian youth, particularly girls, the tools to succeed in a digital economy, ensuring they are not left behind in the global digital transformation.
The ITU’s commitment to empowering young women in ICT aligns with the theme of this year’s Girls in ICT Day: “Girls in ICT for Inclusive Digital Transformation”.
“To date, over 377,000 girls and young women have participated in more than 11,400 celebrations of the event across 171 countries,” said the ITU.
The workshop, and other activities during the summit, reflect ITU’s broader goal of fostering digital literacy and providing young people with the skills needed to tap into emerging ICT-enabled job markets.
With digital employment opportunities expanding across sectors such as agriculture, health and business process outsourcing, young people today have more avenues than ever to build careers that were once unavailable to their predecessors.
In line with these initiatives, ITU continues to collaborate with governments, private-sector partners and NGOs to scale youth digital empowerment efforts.
The goal is not just to equip young people with technical skills, but to inspire entrepreneurial spirit, fostering a generation of young innovators and business creators in Cambodia and beyond.
