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Gender and ICT Policy Advocacy

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GenderIT.org is an online policy monitor for gender and ICT issues, where ICT policy is examined from the perspective of key areas of concern in women's movements, such as economic empowerment and violence against women. It responds to the need to have examples of national policy, gender-sensitive language, tools for lobbying, and an understanding of the impact of poor or positive policy all within easy access, a need expressed by ICT advocates and policy makers alike. Gender and ICT advocates need to defend and promote the internet as an accessible and secure global communications medium for all of civil society. We must be part of the process that governs the way that information will be disseminated in the future - to encourage the free flow of communication between all nations and peoples.

But understanding ICT policy is not an easy task. Both policy and technology have long been seen as the terrain of experts, and for many of us it's easier to leave them in "expert hands" and focus on other priority work of our organisations, such as the defense of women's rights. One of the principal objectives of the Gender and ICT Policy Monitor is to help make the connections between women's rights, gender and ICTs.

 

APC WNSP and Policy Advocacy

The APC WNSP has been involved in gender and ICT advocacy in national, regional and international arenas since 1993. Our ICT policy work began leading up to the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. Since then, the 'gender and ICT' agenda has steadily gained legitimacy as a serious area of concern through painstaking work by women's groups and gender and ICT advocates.

During the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, the APC WNSP worked with civil society groups to pressure for the integration of a gender perspective into all deliberations and drafting of documents of the Summit. In work leading up to the 2003 Geneva Summit, the APC WNSP participated in the Civil Society Plenary, NGO Gender Strategies Working Group and the multi-stakeholder Gender Caucus. APC WNSP members served on the WSIS Gender Caucus and were elected to WSIS' internet financing and internet governance committees.

APC WNSP has worked on national ICT policy training curriculums with the APC to help civil society organisations gain national ICT policy that is gender-sensitive and people-centred. Evaluation and research efforts have informed local practice in the Philippines, Uganda, South Africa, Ecuador and many other countries.