Blog by Donatella Benjamin, SI United Nations Representative in Geneva.
The Generation Equality Forum was held in Paris from June 30 to July 2, 2021. Several roundtables took place, including one on the use of technology and the advancement of innovations in this field to promote equality between women and men. Multiple actors from the public and private sector presented their resolutions to address the issue of gender inequality in the digital sector.
The professional sector of technology is still mostly unequal in its composition. Women are underrepresented: they represent only 30% of employees and 18% of managers. They are still the first victims of digital exclusion and it is important to rethink their access to the internet because technological innovations can give women and girls a voice and bring them out of their geographical, social, economic and political isolation.
These inequalities begin at school: science and technology are areas where parity is not respected. It is necessary to work towards gender equality in the technological sectors but also to empower women and girls through digital innovation. A country that invests in science and technology builds an equitable and inclusive nation.
Finland has invested €8 million in gender equality and technology. It has also pledged to work with UNICEF to find new contributors, especially in Europe, to fight the digital divide, to the tune of €50 million.
The vulnerability of women on online platforms
The pandemic has led to women being sent back to their homes and has clearly caused a sharp decline in women’s rights. Access to technology allows women to take their place on online platforms and can help empower them socially, politically and even professionally.
However, it is also necessary to present women with solutions to ensure their safety from harassment. 73% of women say they have experienced harassment on the internet, but only one in four dare to report it to the police. The perpetrators of this type of harassment are rarely confronted with their actions and they think they are out of reach. The NGO Plan International, which operates in 40 countries around the world, has launched Girls Get Equal, a large-scale campaign against violence and discrimination against women online. Following their #FreeToBeOnline campaign, Instagram agreed to team up with girl activists from around the world to address online harassment. A series of Girls Get Equal Listening Sessions followed, bringing together 15 inspiring girl and young women activists in direct conversation with Instagram, along with Facebook and WhatsApp to discuss solutions for girls’ online safety.
How to promote the place of women in business
Increasing the share of women entrepreneurs and supporting the creation of start-ups are essential to advance the position of women in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. For this to happen, we must first have parity within companies and equal pay.
President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid said that digital inclusion must be a priority. In Estonia, strengthening cybersecurity, improving women’s participation in ICT and education against gender stereotypes are central topics in the fight for gender equality.
While these commitments are promising, they are only the beginning. The next five years will be significant for these resolutions to have a real impact on gender equality.
(Lead image: UN Women/Fabrice Gentile)