Last year’s WSIS+10 Review culminated in an Outcome Document which recognizes the extraordinary extent to which the Internet and ICTs have been instrumental in realizing the WSIS vision of building a people-centered, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society. But the Outcome Document also acknowledges a troubling reality. Despite the past 10 years of technological and connectivity advancements, a significant gender digital divides persists. This has hampered the ability of women to become active and productive members of the digital economy and realize a more rewarding, empowered, and improved quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities. The Outcome Document calls for immediate measures to achieve gender equality in Internet users by 2020 through educational and other initiatives across all female age groups.
Stakeholders have long been aware of this digital gender gap and during the past decade have launched digital/computer literacy and other capacity-building efforts to bridge this divide. Some of these initiatives have yielded impressive results, while others have encountered obstacles. Workshop speakers from all stakeholder groups will explore these challenges and how they have tackled them, putting us on track to realize the WSIS 2020 goal. In particular, we will provide a research-based context for barriers women of all ages face in becoming digitally connected. Speakers will then explore specific stakeholder efforts aimed at improving technical literacy, shaping entrepreneurial talent through internships and mentoring programs, creating a safe online environment for women, leadership training, and other initiatives building capacity.
Speakers provisionally confirmed:
Bogdan-Martin, Doreen
Hafkin, Nancy
Lemineur, Marie-Laure
Muthoni, Dorcas
Nguyen, Carolyn