Gender Transformative Policy to Advance Digital Inclusion – Case studies from the global majority

The Information for All Programme (IFAP) invites you to its webinar series, aligned with its Strategic Plan 2023-2029, focusing on building inclusive Knowledge Societies in the digital era. The series addresses IFAP’s six priority areas: Information for Development, Information Literacy, Information Preservation, Information Ethics, Information Accessibility, and Multilingualism, providing participants with insights and tools to support the development of inclusive digital environments.

Join us for the first edition of this series of webinar, co-organized with the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), titled “Gender Transformative Policy to Advance Digital Inclusion – Case studies from the global majority”. This webinar is held in celebration of the "International Girls in ICT Day," which this year focuses on the theme of "Leadership." The day is dedicated to inspiring and empowering girls to explore and pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2024 priority theme, “accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with gender perspective,” sets the stage for our discussions. In today’s digital landscape, gender-responsive policies are paramount for fostering digital inclusion.

This webinar is designed to highlight strategies that address the unique challenges encountered by individuals of diverse genders, with a focus on women and girls, in accessing and using digital platforms. It will explore policy frameworks and promote good practices, aiming to empower stakeholders to advocate for policies that bridge the digital divide and reflect the diverse needs and voices of people across the gender spectrum. Through engaging discussions and practical insights, IFAP seeks to encourage actions that drive transformative change and promote equitable opportunities for everyone in the digital domain.

In line with its Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2029), UNESCO addresses the digital gender gap, by promoting gender equality in emerging technologies, and mainstreaming gender equality across its universal access to information efforts. To this end, UNESCO’s latest publication “Challenging Systematic Prejudices: An Investigation into Bias Against Women and Girls in Large Language Models” underscores UNESCO’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and combating bias in digital spaces by fostering dialogue, research, and initiatives aimed at mitigating systemic prejudices. 

Introduction remarks by Mr. Pablo Medina Jiménez, IFAP Chair

Presentation of UNESCO’s new publication on Challenging Systematic Prejudices: An Investigation into Bias Against Women and Girls in Large Language Models by Mr. Cédric Wachholz, Chief of Digital Policies and Digital Transformation Section, UNESCO

Speakers:

• Ms. Sonia Jorge, Executive Director, GDIP

• Ms. Onica Makwakwa, Executive Director, GDIP

• Ms. Ingrid Brudvig, Senior Research Manager, GDIP

Testimony of IFAP project in shaping gender equality: Prof. Dr. Nino Enukidze, the Rector of Business and Technology University, Georgia

Discussant: Mr. Cordel Green, Chair of IFAP Working Group on Information Accessibility

Questions & Answers

Closing remarks by Ms. Maria Begona Lasagabaster, Director of the Gender Equality Division in the Office of the Director-General, UNESCO