Information Society Watch

2004, Rebecca Holmes, Women's Net

Women’s Net hosted a regional workshop which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, February 23-25 2004, with the support of the Dimitra Project of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). This background paper explores how ICTs have been incorporated into the pursuit of rural women’s empowerment in Africa, specifically in terms of their access to human rights and good governance. The paper was produced through a desk review conducted primarily via online research. The perspectives and stories that are explored in this paper as a result, are ‘loud’ voices, which means they are voices and stories that have attracted media attention or are more easily retrieved online. It is neither a definitive nor an exhaustive review of current activities in the field. The focus is instead on an overview of the political, women’s empowerment and human rights framework that shape development and good governance goals for African countries. Part Two of the paper focuses on how ICTs are being used to achieve these good governance and development imperatives that benefit rural women. (Adapted from author)

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