Gender digital divide remains a serious issue across the globe with women and girls less likely to have access to ICTs than their male counterparts. It’s for this reason that Centre for Multilateral Affairs (CfMA) and Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), with support from the Web Foundation are implementing a project titled Promoting Smart Policy Options in Closing the Gender Digital Gap in Uganda. Two Multi-stakeholders convenings have been held bringing together civil society actors working to promote digital rights share ideas and insights on the subject. This article gives an overview of the discussions during the two multi-stakeholders convenings that led to the development of a Position Paper, it also includes the observations made during the Position Paper validation workshop.
Impact of the gender digital divide on women’s human rights
Participants of the multi-stakeholders convenings noted that ICTs and human rights are hugely and inextricably intertwined. With the transformative potential of ICTs and big data, the impact on human rights, both positive and negative, has become increasingly apparent. Inequalities in access to and use of the Internet and associated technologies have the potential to undermine the opportunities for realizing human rights and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as ICTs may function as a gateway to the realization of human rights.
For example, the internet enables access to education by allowing online learning resources to be shared. It similarly furthers the right to take part in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its application. Facilitating access to health information and services also positively affects the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Structural and physical limitations of access and use were identified by the participants to interfere with the rights to access to information and freedoms of expression, religion and association, also impacting on the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs. They also infringe upon the rights to work and to an adequate standard of living by limiting access to goods and services, and to employment and business opportunities.
Key limitations to closing the gender digital divide in Uganda
Legislations; there was a general acknowledgment of existing laws related to online usage, however none specifically addresses Women’s rights online. Even so, a fragment of the public knows about the existence of these laws and worse still, few know how to translate them and/or are aware of what to do in case of an event/crisis. This problem is attributed to inadequate consultation methods used in law and policy enactment. This can be associated with lack of political will and unprecedented bureaucracies which limit collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Lack of digital skills; at an international level, grassroot communities and rural women in developing states benefit least from ICT revolutions and this is attributed to a general exclusion in the digital economy.
Lack of online safety and security; whereas there are legal frameworks that help to deal with cybercrime, the redundancy in developing comprehensive legal and institutional frameworks that guarantee women’s rights online is worrying. Rather, the government has resorted to delegating its mandates associated with online security to private companies (most of which have no physical presence in Uganda), regenerating common mistakes which lead to gender digital divides. It was also noted that attention towards cyber harassment that most women face online is very low. For instance, crimes in this circle are treated as minor by institutions like the Police yet they have a very high emotional, mental and physical effect on the victims.
Inadequate infrastructural development to support the use of digital technologies; the inadequacy in ICT tools and infrastructure has frustrated access and usage of the internet at the national level. To top this up, there is limited internet coverage and accessibility, high costs of ICT tools and devices and limited access to information. The local community is hit drastically because of weak network connectivity, lack of electricity, and where there is solar it is not sustainable, absence of hi-tech consultants and technicians to help in phone repairs among others.
Policy Recommendations for Closing the Gender Digital Gap in Uganda
Enacting gender friendly laws and ICT policies by integrating gender perspective into relevant policies and strategies. This is because policies, strategies, plans and budgets that explicitly address women’s needs, circumstances, capabilities and preferences are essential if governments, businesses and other stakeholders are to address the gender digital gap in Uganda.
Digital skills training, there is need for the government in collaboration with other stakeholders, to develop strategies that address the digital skills gap. This can be done by organizing digital skills trainings for women and girls to provide basic and advanced digital skills. In addition, digital skills trainings should also be included in apprenticeships, educational and professional development programmes targeting women. While giving digital skills is important, it should be followed by addressing issues of affordability.
Governments and different stakeholders need to do more to promote and protect online safety, since many women are forced to go offline as a result of cyber bullying and other cybercrimes which go unpunished. In order to promote equal access to ICTs by both men and women governments and technology companies need to respond to online threats that hinder women’s access to and use of technology in Uganda.
There is need for gender-disaggregated data on digital inclusion, including internet access and use and participation in the digital sector. Gender-disaggregated data is currently limited, despite such data being critical to understanding and measuring the digital gender gap and informing policy and business choices that can help bridge this gap. Until governments and businesses are able to understand the causes of the gender digital gap, they will not be able to find viable solutions. Therefore, gender-disaggregated data is needed to close this informational gap.
In conclusion, in order to narrow the digital gender gap in Uganda, different stakeholders including government, businesses, civil society, think tanks need to come together and act on the issues that hinder women and girls from accessing and using ICTs and as this will encourage more women to confidently and safely use digital technologies which in long term promotes economic, social and political development.
