Session
Organizer 1: Kathleen Diga, Association for Progressive Communications
Organizer 2: Bruna Zanolli, rhizomatica
Organizer 3: Harira Abdulraman Wakili, Centre for Information Technology and Development(CITAD)
Organizer 4: El Khoury Cynthia, Association for Progressive Communications
Organizer 5: Adriana Labardini, Rhizomatica
Organizer 6: Risper Nyambok, TunapandaNet
Organizer 7: Josephine Miliza, Kenya ICT Network
Speaker 1: Kathleen Diga, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Bruna Zanolli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Harira Abdulraman Wakili, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 4: El Khoury Cynthia, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Adriana Labardini, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 6: Risper Nyambok, Civil Society, African Group
Kathleen Diga, Civil Society, African Group
El Khoury Cynthia, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Josephine Miliza, Civil Society, African Group
Panel - Auditorium - 60 Min
1. How can on-the-ground experiences of women and gender-diverse persons working with communities inform policy? How does one open communication channels with policymakers to raise gender awareness?
2. How can new community network licensing policy and regulatory regimes take gender inclusion principles and best practices into consideration?
3. What are some first steps that governments and regulators can take to engage in a process of including more women and gender diverse persons in telecommunications policy making in their own workplace?
Connection with previous Messages:
5.5
Targets: 5.5 The topic of gender and women's participation in telecommunications policy spaces from a community-led perspective has direct link to this SDG around women leadership in all levels of decision-making
5.b Women's empowerment is promoted when they can make their own decisions in technology design and choice and are placed in spaces that allow them to use ICTs
9.c Universal access must also reach hard to reach rural and indigenous communities which are discussed by our participants who are part of community-led initiatives. Telecom policy must also strive to be inclusive of gender if it aims for universality.
10.2. This proposal looks at specific intersections of humans and the excluded including due to sex, race, ethnicity, economic and other status
10.6 This proposal is unique has it specific targets representation and voice from developing countries and specific to decision-making at the global, national and local level
Description:
This session is dedicated to sharing lessons learned from four specific gender and women’s participation strategies in enabling community-led networks in the global South.
Firstly, the session includes a conversation with women in Africa who are localising their digital experiences to define and operationalise digital safe spaces within communities. This strategy is working towards realising gender equality through open and safe participation based on their communication or internet needs.
Secondly, the session provides an example of how to build knowledge, skills and confidence through the lessons gained from a global mentorship programme that includes not only training in telecommunications policy and regulation, but also how to implement a gender perspective in community projects. The intervention has enabled women and gender diverse people to understand telecommunications and human rights intersection at hand and take further steps to engage in global policy spaces.
Thirdly, research also plays a part in the gender equality process, as recent feminist internet research reflects on the participatory action of women in a quilombola community in Brazil and lessons around sustainability of CNs in a woman-driven autonomous network.
Finally, we draw upon the implementation and integration of gender perspective in policymaking and specifically discuss the language used to document and convey such gender aware policy, such as demonstrated from the recent experiences in Brazil and Kenya (i.e. Brazil policy brief on CN & Kenya CN framework). Overall, the session reveals innovative practices that will ensure excluded groups and community-led practices are taken into account when it comes to telecommunications policymaking and regulation.
The expected outcome of this session aims to bring changed ways of thinking amongst local civil society organisations, governments and gender-aware stakeholders on the extended possibilities to include gender and women's participation within the telecommunication policy space.
Specific outputs will be developed such as a published blog site some of the respective participants' websites, including APC.org.
Further, an online conversation with the attendees (both in-person and virtual) will help to explore and exchange around best gender-aware practices.
Hybrid Format: The organisers have experience in running hybrid participation sessions. Facilitators are trained in ensuring that online attendees and speakers are acknowledged for the duration of the session.
Mechanisms such as ‘raise hand’ or type in chat will be used to allow for interaction of online participants as well as some participatory methods for onsite participants.
Usage of IGF Official Tool.