Information Society Watch

October 8, 2007, Sally Shackleton, eGov monitor

This article details the successful use of ICTs for the empowerment of women in South Africa. The focus is on the Women'sNet Digital Stories Project that has made 15 short films - or digital stories - which use personal stories of individual experiences to reveal a picture of a community. The author concludes that digital storytelling can empower women to protect themselves and generally improve the quality of their lives.

2005, Jac sm Kee, APC WNSP issue paper

This article analyses the complex ways in which ICTs have impacted on violence against women, both to enable and further institutionalise gender-based violence as well as to connect women's rights activists to mobilise support around survivors and end such violence. Thus it is argued that the relationship between ICTs and violence against women is significantly affected by existing social hierarchies.

September 28, 2007, Bruce Byfield, Linux.com

This article explores the various questions and possibilities of of a GNU/Linux distribution developed "for and by women". It concludes that even if a women's distribution accomplishes none of the things it promises to, it is nevertheless a worthwhile endeavour. The author expresses his confidence that a women's distribution would extend beyond women-oriented themes and applications, but notes that the strength of FOSS is that all who comply with licensing requirements can do what they want with it.

Anita Dighe & Usha Vyasulu Reddi, CEMCA    

This paper highlights why women's illiteracy needs to be addressed, and outlines documented experiences in using ICTs to address illiteracy. After reviewing some of the salient experiences of running literacy programmes for women in developing countries, the authors discuss the support needed from a broad array of sources and areas for meaningful use of ICT interventions in women's literacy.

2004, UNDP, UNIFEM

This report reviews key gender and information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. It is an examination of the gender dimension of key ICT initiatives within the region which maps the situation and identifies trends, gaps, as well as some good practices, and offers conclusions, recommendations and references to resources.

2003, Swasti Mitter, United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development

This paper is an agenda for research and action for advancing women's employment and livelihood opportunities in developing countries in the ICT-related sectors. The objective is to identify areas of policy intervention that will allow women to participate in the globalised digital economy on a par with men. It will explore the possibility and potential of ICT in bringing gender equality in the world of work, be that in employment or in trade and commerce.

2002, Sonia Jorge

This paper looks at challenges and practical strategies of ICT use for women’s economic empowerment. The author provides recommendations on how to proceed in order to improve the conditions leading to women’s economic empowerment vis-a-vis the use of ICTs.

1999, Radhika Gajjala and Annapurna Mamidipudi, Gender and Development

Cyberfeminists share the belief that women should take control of and appropriate the use of internet technologies in an attempt to empower themselves. In this article, the authors make conceptual links between 'old' and 'new' technologies within contexts of globalisation, third-world development, and the empowerment of women.

Lyndsay Green, UNESCO

One of the strongest messages that emerges from research on the effective use of ICTs in the education of women is the need to use appropriate technology. The examples in this paper look at the newer ICTs, computers and related services such as e-mail and the web, and also include the use of broadcast technologies, such as radio and television, as well as audio and videotapes.

2001, Vikas Nath, KnowNet.org Initiative

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are for everyone and women have to be equal beneficiaries to the advantages offered by the technology and the products and processes which emerge from their use.