Gender, Development and Information Society Policies Minimize

Why a CoE on GDISP?

A framework that constructs ICTs as a constitutive element of a new systemic social architecture, rather than just as a set of useful tools, provides a better possibility for understanding their transformatory nature. Within such a framework, it is necessary to understand and acknowledge the gender dimensions of these changes and to suitably engender information society (IS) policies.

Information society changes bring both new challenges and opportunities for gender equality. On the one side, the IS phenomenon is in danger of being instrumentalised and co-opted by dominant ideologies, including those of the market and of patriarchy, and this is undermining policy and other social gains achieved in respect of gender and development. On the other side, access to new ICTs has some inherent emancipatory possibilities for women. While ICTs may be seen as a force or medium reshaping society, they themselves need to be shaped by a vision of gender equality, which requires understanding how gender plays out in the IS.

This CoE on Gender, Development and Information Society Policies (GDISP) will examine the complex relationship between gender, development and IS policies and channel the emerging understanding into policy processes at local, national and global levels. Its work is fundamental to the vision of equitable development that the UN GAID is pursuing.

What critical themes will the CoE-GDISP address?

The CoE will pursue research, knowledge development and dissemination, and policy advocacy, building on the current work of its members. The broad themes will cover the significant areas of intersection between gender, development and the information society such as:

  • Globalization, work and the information society
  • Education, skill building and equal participation of women in the information society paradigm
  • Gender, identity and digital spaces - opportunities and challenges
  • Media, community and networking in the information society
  • Gendered dimensions of institutional and structural changes in the information society

Objectives

The objectives of the CoE-GDISP are to:

  • Build a platform of women's organisations to engage in IS policy advocacy from a development perspective.
  • Undertake research and pursue other forms of knowledge and expertise building.
  • Provide online and face-to-face platforms for a sustained dialogue among this community of organisations on IS issues, for developing new concepts and analytical frameworks, and for the articulation of policy recommendations with respect to gender and development.
  • Extend linkages of this group to local and implementation levels of ICTD projects working for women's empowerment, and with progressive community based organisations and movements.
  • Develop linkages to policy-making mechanisms/bodies at national and global levels, especially with UN organisations, and harness the platform's international character for this purpose.
  • Make a significant impact on shaping and developing IS policies by claiming an active role in the policy processes at national, regional and global levels. Deliverables

Who is part of the CoE-GDISP?

The CoE-GDISP is organised as a loose network. It brings together two separate constituencies - organisations already engaged in gender and ICT advocacy and organisations with a history of global engagement in gender, development and rights. This includes existing global networks, regional and national universities and NGOs, local groups, and donor and multilateral agencies. The CoE will also reach out through its work to many more gender activists and organisations in order to broad-base a gender and IS perspective.

How can you contribute to the CoE?

To either be part of this CoE or to extend support, you can reach our present secretariat at:

IT for Change - www.ITforChange.net
Email: CoE-GDISP AT ITforChange DOT net, Anita AT ITforChange DOT net

Lead organization

IT for Change

Members

  • Agencia Latinoamericana de Información (ALAI), Ecuador
  • Association for Progressive Communications - Women's Networking Support Program (APC WNSP)
  • Asia Pacific Women's Information Network Centre (APWINC), South Korea
  • Centre for Feminist Research and Action, Dominican Republic
  • Centre for Women's Research (CENWOR), Sri Lanka
  • Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia - Commonwealth of Learning (CEMCA, COL)
  • Department of Gender, Technology and Organization, Luleå University of Technology, Sweden
  • Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN)
  • femLINK PACIFIC: Media Initiatives for Women, Fiji Islands
  • FEMNET Africa, The African Women's Development and Communication Network, Kenya
  • Hengasara Hakkina Sangha (HHS), India
  • Humanistisch Instituut voor Ontwikkelingssamenwerking (HIVOS)
  • International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN) - Asia
  • International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC), USA
  • ISIS International Manila
  • IT for Change, India
  • Jagori - Women's Training, Documentation and Resource Center, India
  • Manushi, India
  • Radio Internacional Feminista (FIRE), Costa Rica
  • Shirkat Gah - Women's Resource Centre, Pakistan
  • Terre des Femmes, Germany
  • United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
  • Women's Net, South Africa
  • Florence Etta, member of the steering committee, of the erstwhile Gender Caucus of WSIS
  • Gloria Bonder, UNESCO Regional Chair for Latin America on Women, Science and Technology
  • Magaly Pazello, member of the steering committee, of the erstwhile Gender Caucus of WSIS