Volume 13, No. 2, November 2003
International
Telecommunication Union : Connecting ICT
and Gender
Patricia Faccin
Working Group on Gender Issues Studies
International Telecommunication Union
Introduction
The Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been recognized as powerful tools for empowering poor men and women in various regions across the globe. Many ICT applications have played an important role in have been instrumental in providing education and training, job opportunities, access to markets, information related to economic activities, and a range of citizen services.
However, in recent years, ICT and the issue of gender disparity in its access and usage has received considerable attention. The technological revolution that seeks to bridge the 'digital divide' also has a gender dimension. Poor women in developing countries have little or no access to ICTs due to various factors, including lower levels of education among girls, poor representation of women in technical courses, dominance of men in the ICT labor force, socio-cultural norms, constraints of time due to work and responsibilities at home, and so on.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has realized the necessity to consider gender issues while formulating ICT Policies and implementing ICT initiatives in developing countries. The ITU has initiated a series of activities to mainstream gender into the work of the organization. Following the resolution taken at the 1998 World Telecommunications Development Conference on Gender and Telecommunication Policy in developing countries, a Task Force on Gender Issues (TFGI) in the Development Sector (ITU-D) was established and transformed into a permanent Working Group on Gender Issues (WGGI) in 2002. The ITU-D also resolved to act as an enabling force for the development of an active network between different types of women organizations, including NGOs, involved in the area of information and telecommunication. The Plenipotentiary Conference in 2002 resolved to accord high priority to the incorporation of gender policies in the management, staffing and operation of ITU.
ITU’S Strategic Responses
Working Group on Gender Issues (WGGI)
The WGGI aims to increase awareness of developmental impact of telecommunications on women, promote mainstreaming of gender issues into telecommunication policy and programs, and ensure that the benefits of telecommunications and the emerging information society reach all women and men in developing countries on a fair and equitable basis. Some of the major activities of WGGI are:
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The WGGI has formulated ‘Gender-Aware Guidelines’, aimed at policy-making and regulatory agencies. The guidelines aim to promote gender-sensitive policies by involving both women and men in the processes as well as in assessing the impact of decisions made. These guidelines offer specific recommendations on how a gender perspective can be integrated into all areas of policy, regulations and licensing.
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The Regional Seminars on Gender and ICT are intended to promote awareness and knowledge within the telecommunication industry at a national and regional level.
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Access to rural ICT facilities: The joint ITU-Cabo Verde Telecom project in Santa Catarina started a Telecenter in May 2002. The center, operational daily, is managed by women . There are plans to provide training for women and to introduce an e-commerce component to facilitate the selling of handicrafts made by them.
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Questionnaire Survey on Gender Equality Policies and Practices: This annual survey evaluates the progress of policy-making and regulatory agencies in implementing gender issues into all areas of their work. The questionnaire helps to build awareness, identify successful gender equality strategies and develop expertise that can be shared with other U.N. agencies, telecommunication administrations, the private sector and NGOs. The responses to the survey are entered into a database of basic indicators related to gender equality.
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Capacity Building on Gender Mainstreaming for ITU-Development staff: The main objective of the training is to enhance clarity among staff responsible for implementation of the four year Istanbul Action Plan (ISAP), on how they can contribute in practical ways to ITU-D's gender equality goals in the context of their daily work.
Other ITU-D initiatives
Internet Training Centre
The ITU Internet Training Centres Initiative for Developing Countries (ITCI-DC) is a joint initiative between ITU and Cisco Systems Inc. – a private sector player. The ITU-Cisco project at Makerere University (Uganda) for example aims to promote the participation of women in the information and communication sector.
ITU Group on Gender Issues
This internal group has adopted gender mainstreaming as its primary goal. Its activities include gender awareness training and workshops for ITU staff, information sessions for ITU delegates, and participation in UN activities including Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality (IANWGE).
WSIS and Gender: ITU'S role
The ITU has two major roles at WSIS:
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Joint Task Manager for IANWGE Task Force on Gender and ICT with a mandate to bring together UN organizations and its specialized agencies in the cross-cutting issues of ICT and Gender, through joint collaboration towards incorporating a gender perspective in the work of WSIS.
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WGGI, as a Steering Committee Member of Gender Caucus, seeks through its multi-stakeholder group of gender and ICT advocates, to ensure that gender equality issues are an integral part of the processes and outcome of WSIS.
Challenges and Conclusion
Over the past 5 years, ITU Member states have become more knowledgeable and are showing more interest to include a gender perspective in the work of the Union. Progress has been made in gender balance ratio at the lower professional category and in the number of women participants at ITU meetings and conferences. ITU-D has taken the lead in promoting gender equality within its work plan. However, the prevailing organizational culture reflects a focus on technical issues and perceives the mainstreaming of gender as irrelevant to its program of work. The forthcoming WSIS offers an additional opportunity to influence the ITU framework and broaden the understanding of gender equality commitments as they relate to ITU’s mandate.
Source: Recent ‘Gender and ICT’ Initiatives, http://www.itu.int/newsarchive/press_releases/2002/33.html