FOsaka, Japan – April 25, 2025 – The Osaka Protocol, a landmark international agreement to advance gender equality for innovative and sustainable digital societies, was officially signed today at the Women in Tech Global Summit in Osaka.
Ceremony Opened by Japanese Government Leadership
The signing ceremony commenced with a keynote address from H.E. Katsuhiko Takahashi, Representative of the Government of Japan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan) for FTA/EPA Negotiations, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary for International Economic Affairs, Arctic Affairs, and Women, Peace & Security (WPS). Ambassador Takahashi also delivered a personal message from the First Lady of Japan, Yuko Kishida, underscoring the event’s national and international significance.
Culmination of Global Collaboration
The Osaka Protocol’s journey began with its first announcement at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2025, followed by months of dedicated international collaboration. The official signing in Osaka marks a pivotal step in uniting public and private sector leaders, governments, and civil society to close the digital gender gap and empower women and girls worldwide
Protocol Objectives
The Osaka Protocol establishes a unified, measurable framework with the following objectives:
- Foster global initiatives that advance STEM education and skills for women and girls.
- Support efforts that accelerate women’s representation, leadership, and entrepreneurship in the STEM sector.
- Promote universal digital access and inclusion for women and girls, particularly in underserved communities.
- Encourage the development of ethical, unbiased, and inclusive technologies supported by appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks.
- The Protocol targets direct impact for 100 million women and girls by 2030 through initiatives in education, workforce participation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital access. Impact will be measured across skills and education, professional advancement, and digital inclusion, with annual reporting and transparent governance.
Steering Committee and Leadership
The Osaka Protocol is governed by a globally representative Steering Committee and Executive Support Team:
Steering Committee
- Ayumi Moore Aoki – Chair (Founder & CEO, Women in Tech Global; Tech Diplomacy Forum)
- Rika Nakazawa – Co-Chair (Chief Commercial Innovation, NTT)
- Philippe Vogeleer (WITG Advisory Board; Member of the Council, Institute of Directors)
- Chiara Corazza (WITG Advisory Board; President, CCC; Representative for France, G20 Empower)
- Sandro Knopfel (WITG Advisory Board; Global Business Development Lead, Cardano Foundation)
- Sonia Jorge (Founder & Executive Director, Global Digital Inclusion Partnership)
- Shivam Kishore (Senior Advisor, Digital Transformation and Climate Investment)
- Lara Dewar (Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA)
- Guillaume Defer (Headline Asia)
- Elend Grimme (GM and Associate General Counsel, Western Europe, Microsoft)
- Julie Castro Abrams (Founder, Women Who Lead)
- Dr. Anino Emuwa (Founder, 100 Women @ Davos)
- Shogo Ishida (Co-CEO, EMURGO Middle East and Africa)
- Leanne Robers (Co-founder and Co-CEO She Loves Tech)
- Gulser Corat (Founder, NoBiasAI)
Executive Support Team
- Tamuna Kvintradze (Protocol Director; Chief of Staff, Women in Tech Global)
- Yuki Aizawa (Protocol Coordinator; APAC Director, Women in Tech Global).
Founding Parties
The first organizations and leaders to sign the Osaka Protocol include:
- Timur Turlov, for Freedom Holding Corp.
- Gabriele Wagenhofer, Senior Vice President, Technology, Digital Core, bp
- Kamola Sobirova, for the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- Sita Pallacholla, CEO, WE Hub (A Telangana Government initiative)
- Sebastien Borget, for The Sandbox
- Shogo Ishida, Co-CEO, EMURGO Middle East and Africa
- Dr. Saman Sarbazvatan, Vice Dean, Ecole Des Ponts Business School; Founder, ReTech Center
- Julie Castro Abrams, Founder, Women Who Lead
- Sonia Jorge, for Global Digital Inclusion Partnership
- Élisabeth Moreno, for Femmes Numérique
- Leonilde Tatiana Santos, for Cabo Verde’s Multisectoral Regulatory Agency of Economy
“As the Founder and Chair of the Osaka Protocol, I am honored to see this vision realized. The Protocol is a call to coordinated, measurable action to close the digital gender gap and empower women everywhere. Together, we are building a future where digital innovation is truly inclusive and equitable for all.”
Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder & Chair, The Osaka Protocol
Call to Action
Organizations worldwide are invited to sign the Osaka Protocol and commit to measurable, impactful initiatives. Individuals passionate about gender equality in technology are encouraged to pledge their support and help reach the collective 2030 goals.
For media inquiries, interviews, or to learn how to become a signatory, please contact:
Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder & Chair, The Osaka Protocol
Email: top@women-in-tech.org
About the Osaka Protocol:
The Osaka Protocol is an international framework uniting public and private sector leaders, governments, and civil society to advance gender equality in digital societies. It sets clear objectives, measurable targets, and a governance structure to ensure accountability and collective progress toward closing the digital gender gap by 2030.
