By Constance Imasuen
Policy
Abuja, Sept 18, 2018 (NAN) The Centre for Information and Technology Development (CITAD) says women should be included in policy making of Internet Governance Forum (IGF).
Ms Salma Abdulwaheed, the Programme Officer, Communication, CITAD made the call while delivering a paper on the topic: “What should women want in Paris?’’ at the first IGF 2018 during the First Women Internet Governance Forum in Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
She said that the 13th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) will be held in Paris, France, from Nov. 12 to Nov. 14, to be host by the French Government.
According to her, the meeting will be held at the headquarters of the UNESCO, in parallel with the Paris Peace Forum on Nov. 11 to Nov.13.
“At this forum, we want to ensure that what women in Paris want is being discussed.’’
She said that at the forum, the women would also want to focus on gender perspective to be included in the key debates around internet governance issues such as content regulation, privacy, access, freedom of expression, among others.
Abdulwaheed said that there should be promotion of women’s visibility at the IGF and related fora, for conducting research and input on the main topics of IGF debates.
“To support capacity building of gender advocates and to promote more effective linkages between local, regional and global initiatives on gender and information society.
“Women want greater efforts to ensure that their diverse perspectives are brought to the forefront in each stakeholder group.
“A rights based approach to Internet governance is the only safeguard for women to fully enjoy the benefits of the Internet,’’ she said.
Abdulwaheed said that access to the Internet was important for women to be able to gain information which might not be available to them otherwise.
She said that this would also enable them to achieve full realisation of their rights, especially in case of those from the marginalised communities.
“When speaking of access, there is a noticeable inverse proportionality in the movement against the digital divide.
“Especially in countries with pronounced gender discrimination, as the overall percentage of men with access grows, the percentage of women without access or with limited access remains steady thereby increasing the gender imbalance.
“And often there is a direct proportionality between increased access for women and violence against women online, ‘’ she said.
Abdulwaheed said that issues faced by women with disabilities and their access to the internet as well how the access could empower them should also be brought to the fora.
“We often in such discussions fail to understand that the space of gender is a cross-cutting, and in every real area of work and expertise.
“We should also consider generational gaps amongst women.
“Young women hardly have an opportunity to participate, and it is even more difficult for them to be considered as panelists, moderators and facilitators,’’ she said. (NAN)
COA/GY
=======
Edited by Grace Yussuf