Thank you, Mr. President, 

1. I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of eight beneficiary countries of the LDCs/SIDS Trust Fund participating in the present session.
2. As artificial intelligence and related digital technologies become increasingly integrated into our societies and economies, it is important that their benefits are accessible to all.
3. For many LDCs and SIDS, significant gaps in connectivity, digital infrastructure and technical capacity continue to limit the ability of women and girls to benefit from these technologies. Full and equal access to and participation in technology and innovation for women and girls is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls
4. We call upon the international community to increase capacity-building to address the widening AI and other digital divides between countries, as well as the unique challenges faces by developing countries in keeping pace with the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence
5. We therefore underscore the importance of international cooperation, including technology transfer and capacity buiding, to help bridge digital divides and strengthen digital skills, particularly for women and girls, in line with the SDGs and the Global Digital Compact.
6. In concluding, we ask the following question to the Working Group:
7. What measures can the international community take to strengthen technology transfer and capacity-building for LDCs and SIDs to ensure that women and girls can participate meaningfully in the development and governance of artificial intelligence?

I thank you.