women´s rights
A strategising meeting for Beijing Platform for Action Section J was held on 13 March during this year’s CSW 58. The meeting was attended by representatives of APC, Isis International, Women and Media Collective, and Search for Common Ground, to plan for Beijing+20, emphasising Section J concerns, particularly the use of all media and ICTs to be seen as an issue that cuts across all the 12 critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform.
The position of Latin American and Caribbean countries on the CSW58 agreed conclusions emphasises the inseparable link that exists between human rights and development. The signing organisations, which include APC, also express concern over the non-incorporation of the human rights of women in the agreed conclusions and the elimination of references to sexual and reproductive rights.
As part of an NGO parallel event at CSW58, hosted by the Southern Africa Gender Protocol Alliance and Gender Links, Jan Moolman, Women’s Rights Programme project coordinator from APC, explains how important information and communication technologies and the media are in advancing gender equality and protecting women’s rights.
GISWatch 2013 shows that gains in women’s rights made online are not always certain or stable. It is a call to action, to the increased participation of women in all forms of technological governance and development, and to a reaffirmation and strengthening of their rights online.
Women’s ability to set policy agendas is key to internet governance, and we work constantly to subvert existing power relations with GenderIT.org. It is also the focus of this year’s GISWatch, which GenderIT.org covers in its latest edition.
Colnodo, KICTANet, and Foundation for Media Alternatives, all APC members and partners in the project “End violence: Women’s rights and safety online” were recognised with additional funding to support elements of their work focusing on the promotion of women’s rights and safety online.
On February 5, 2013 the Philippines Supreme Court extended until further notice the temporary restraining order issued on the implementation of the controversial Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. This sets a milestone for organisations and individuals advocating for internet rights.
Representatives of women’s party-list group Gabriela are pushing for amendments to the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act as an alternative to the Anti-Cybercrime Law’s provisions on “cyber” violence against women in Philippines.
The 2012 TBTT campaign featured 16 stories for 16 days. Each of them presented a different way that ICTs affect the lives of women around the world. This GenderIT.org edition, editorialized by Françoise Mukuku from the Democratic Republic of Congo, reflects on some of the issues emerged from these stories of survivor and courage.
This year’s Internet Governance Forum came to a close in Baku, Azerbaijan on 9 November. GenderIT.org contributor Sonia Randhawa spoke to three women about their experiences at the IGF, and whether any progress is being made in terms of the representation of women, and the prominence of women’s rights and gender as cross-cutting issues for internet governance.
