Session
Organizer 1: Hija Kamran, Media Matters for Democracy
Speaker 1: Zoya Rehman, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Kayastha Shubha, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Nandini Chami, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Hija Kamran, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Hija Kamran, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Hija Kamran, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Panel - Auditorium - 60 Min
Barriers to universal and meaningful access: What are the main challenges that people face in obtaining and making full use of Internet access? To what extent are these the result of social, economic and cultural factors, and to what extent do they result from aspects of the digital environment? How can we use the responses to these questions to better understand the intersection between digital policies and other policy areas? Can this understanding help us to develop and implement more realistic Internet-related policy goals?
Policymaking discourse, especially in the global south, is more often than not devoid of gender considerations. As a result, the regulation that is passed leaves behind half of the population. While this is true for most of the world, it further becomes evident in the global south, and more so in South Asian region that adheres to archaic patriarchal and societal beliefs, when the policy is implemented and impacts (or fails to cater to) women and gender minorities. This is also seen regularly in internet regulation conversations, and as a result, an internet that is not inclusive is presented to the people. Where many people leave online spaces based on their experiences on these platforms, others in the Global South don't have access to it at all. This session will explore what are the barriers that restrict women and gender minorities from joining the internet, what is the role of the policymakers and private sector, what role can civil society play, and what are the opportunities where collective effort can be made to connect more women and gendered individuals to the meaningful internet.
5.1
5.b
5.c
Targets: Internet is a main source of exercising and demanding a lot of fundamental rights across the world. It is a source of critical and timely information, awareness, opportunities, and voicing opinions. And gender digital divide, which in a lot of cases is by design in South Asian countries, keeps women and gender minorities from accessing these rights, which further promotes gender based inequalities in societies. The session will identify the divide as a form of gender based violence, and will work the discussion towards collective action.
Description:
Policymaking discourse, especially in the global south, is more often than not devoid of gender considerations. As a result, the regulation that is passed leaves behind half of the population. While this is true for most of the world, it further becomes evident in the global south, and more so in South Asian region that adheres to archaic patriarchal and societal beliefs, when the policy is implemented and impacts (or fails to cater to) women and gender minorities. This is also seen regularly in internet regulation conversations, and as a result, an internet that is not inclusive is presented to the people. Where many women leave online spaces based on their [violent] experiences on these platforms, others in the Global South don't have access to it at all. This session will explore what the barriers are that restrict women and gender minorities from joining the internet, what is the role of policymakers and private sector, what role can civil society play, and what are the opportunities where collective effort can be made to connect more women and gendered individuals to the meaningful internet.
This session will be based on Media Matters for Democracy's recent research, advocacy and campaign work on Gender Digital Divide and Access to the Internet in Pakistan, and will attempt to find correlations of the findings in other countries in the region. The fact that this session does not assume India to be the center of South Asia, and intends to include voices from other countries as well will make it an inclusive dialogue that will further inform regional advocacy for internet access and bridging digital divide.
The expected outcomes of this session at this point are, a) to begin regional advocacy on internet access based on the shared experiences of South Asian countries, b) host regional articles and voices regarding gender digital divide and meaningful connectivity on the Digital Rights Monitor, Pakistan's first digital rights focused news website - an initiative of Media Matters for Democracy (www.digitalrightsmonitor.pk), and c) expand and inform Media Matters for Democracy's continued work on meaningful connectivity by learning from voices across the region.
5 minutes will be dedicated for the introduction; 4 speakers will be engaged each from different South Asian countries who will be given 8 minutes each to share their intervention, 15 minutes dedicated for audience participation, and 8 minutes will be divided throughout the panel for moderator intervention, questions and parting remarks.
Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: Zoom, for online attendance.