Creating a World of Equal Opportunities; Increasing the participation of women in ICT

Information and communication technologies (ICT) are arguably the most potent force shaping the 21st century as they redefine the way human beings communicate, learn, work and play. In essence, ICT are redefining how we live.

As tools for human development and empowerment, ICT have no equal. Their ability to enable inclusion and access to information as well as to offer a vast array of opportunities across the social, economic, environmental and political domain, make them strategic tools for individual, national and global development.

Women and Girls have more to gain from ICT
ICT are key for the empowerment of both women and men, but women and girls have more to gain because they are the most disadvantaged where development opportunities are concerned. Over half the world's population still lives on less than $2 a day. Eighteen percent of this or 1.1 billion people live in extreme poverty on $1 or less a day. Forty percent are unemployed and one in every five adults is illiterate. Moreover, more than 70 million children are out of school and a larger untracked number drop out of schools. In each of these categories, women and girls make up the majority. Attention to the particular needs of women and girls given their position of relative disadvantage is paramount if we are to create a world of equal opportunities via ICT.

ICT amplify the gender divide while creating opportunities for equality
The digital divide between the ICT haves and have-nots is the fastest narrowing divide worldwide. As more people gain access to information and communication, they become better positioned to make decisions that improve their own lives, which in turn help the world address the problem of social and economic disparities. While digital opportunities are spreading to both men and women, the existing gender divide that runs across all social and income groups has been amplified where ICT are concerned. Throughout the world, women face serious challenges that limit or prevent their access, use and ownership of ICT. These challenges stem from economic, social and cultural obstacles, which must be tackled for the sake of equitable development opportunities.

Read the full article by Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Executive Director, Global Knowledge Partnership.

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