Information Society Watch

2003, Natasha Primo, UNESCO

Published in the backdrop of the Geneva World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in 2003, this paper outlines UNESCO's concern over the gender digital divide. Beginning with a survey of the efforts at putting gender concerns on the global ICT policy agenda, the paper provides statistical evidence on the uneven spread of technology between nations and genders. Various strategies to overcome this are discussed next, as also the options for the stakeholders involved. The core contention of the paper is that unless gender issues are integrated with technology analysis, policies and programmes, women and men will not benefit equally from ICTs.

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