IGF 2021 WS #192
Gender equality in Tech: Lessons for post-pandemic times

Organizer 1: Mateusz Kaczor, MSL Group
Organizer 2: Radosław Kędzia, Huawei
Organizer 3: Bianka Siwińska, Perspektywy Women in Tech

Speaker 1: Laura Chite , Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 2: Siri Borsum, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 3: Piotr Płoszajski, Civil Society, Eastern European Group

Moderator

Bianka Siwińska, Civil Society, Eastern European Group

Online Moderator

Radosław Kędzia, Private Sector, Eastern European Group

Rapporteur

Mateusz Kaczor, Private Sector, Eastern European Group

Format

Round Table - U-shape - 60 Min

Policy Question(s)

Social inequality and the pandemic: What can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic context about the relationship between digital inequality and social and economic inequality? Similarly, what lessons can be drawn with respect to the pandemic and Internet-related human rights? What does this suggest about policy approaches for digitalisation and digital inclusion?
Economic and social inclusion and sustainable development: What is the relationship between digital policy and development and the established international frameworks for social and economic inclusion set out in the Sustainable Development Goals and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Conventions on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, on the Rights of the Child, and on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? How do policy makers and other stakeholders effectively connect these global instruments and interpretations to national contexts?

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role that the development of digital tools plays in societies. This trend will continue to grow. It is therefore crucial that the future, including the technological one, is shaped by all those involved. Technology can be the key to ensuring equal opportunities for women around the world. At the same time, ICT remains an area where women commonly experience discrimination and exclusion - from access to digital jobs to cyberbullying, much remains to be done to achieve equal opportunities. Pandemic, on the other hand the digitalization opened a new work-opportunities not only for women, but also to people with dissabilities. The aim of the panel is to find tools and ways keep and enhance the positive impact of digitalization.

SDGs

4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
10. Reduced Inequalities


Targets: This session aims to discuss strategies and tools to address the digital gender gap (Goal 4/5/10) in national and international contexts and thereby avoid distortions in building a technological future.The pandemic has clearly demonstrated how human development is affected by access to information or digital exclusion. Inequalities slow down the economic growth (Goal 8).

Description:

This session aims to discuss strategies and tools to address the digital gender gap in national and international contexts and thereby avoid distortions in building a technological future.

In this session, speakers from different continents, backgrounds and generations will share stories about how technology has influenced the pandemic experience and how technological development should be shaped by taking into account the perspectives of all the people who make up society.

The discussion will be guided by gender diversity and a comprehensive approach to building a new social order based on gender equality in education and employment and gender mainstreaming policies.

Expected Outcomes

he session aims to develop policy recommendations and best practices for building a new order, using the Internet and technologies based on it, with the full potential of all genders and ages to build communities for the new times. It also intends to showcase that cooperation and inclusion, in which technology plays a huge role nowadays, may result in the best possible outcome.

Participation and audience questions will alternate between those on site and those participating online. The moderator with the help of a support person will ask questions of the participants. The support person will operate the chat and point out questions to the moderator. If technology allows, the audience will be able to answer questions online during the panel.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool.