Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 2: Government, African Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Organizer 2: Government, African Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 1: Josephine Miliza, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Dr. Emma Otieno, Government, African Group
Speaker 3: Waqas Hassan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Ronda Zelezny-Green, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Ivy Tuffuor Hoetu, Government, African Group
Speaker 2: Dr. Emma Otieno, Government, African Group
Speaker 3: Waqas Hassan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Ronda Zelezny-Green, Private Sector, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 5: Ivy Tuffuor Hoetu, Government, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A 90-minute roundtable session is ideal as it allows for in-depth discussions, multi-stakeholder engagement, and actionable outcomes while maintaining participant focus. Bringing together government policymakers, regulators, development organizations, civil society, and the private sector, this format ensures equal participation, amplifying the voices of grassroots and underrepresented groups. Participants can debate policies, share ideas, and co-develop practical solutions.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: A 90-minute roundtable session is ideal as it allows for in-depth discussions, multi-stakeholder engagement, and actionable outcomes while maintaining participant focus. Bringing together government policymakers, regulators, development organizations, civil society, and the private sector, this format ensures equal participation, amplifying the voices of grassroots and underrepresented groups. Participants can debate policies, share ideas, and co-develop practical solutions.
Policy Question(s)
How can governments and regulators ensure that gender equality is explicitly integrated into national ICT policies, master plans, and regulatory frameworks?
How can national and regional digital policies align with global frameworks such as the WSIS Action Lines, the Global Digital Compact, and SDG 5 to advance gender equality?
What policy and regulatory enablers are needed to support the growth and sustainability of community networks, particularly those led by or serving women?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will explore grassroots initiatives showcasing how local communities, particularly in unserved and underserved areas are driving efforts to enhance digital access for women through community-centered connectivity solutions. It will offer governments, regulators, civil society, and the private sector a platform to reflect on past policy successes and shortcomings, while proposing forward-looking strategies to effectively integrate gender perspectives into digital policies. It will emphasize the role of community-centered connectivity initiatives, inclusive regulatory frameworks, and multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing gender equality in the digital space. By doing so the session will ensure that WSIS principles remain relevant and deliver concrete recommendations to ensure gender equality remains a central priority in WSIS outcomes beyond 2025.
SDGs
Description:
Despite global efforts to close the digital gender gap, women continue to face significant barriers in accessing financial, educational, social, and health resources in the digital age. This disparity is especially pronounced in low-income countries, where digital exclusion remains a critical challenge. In 2022, only 21% of women in these countries had access to the internet, compared to 92% in high-income nations. While some governments have introduced policies to address the digital divide, gender mainstreaming in ICT policy and regulation remains limited or absent. According to the ITU, gender is explicitly referenced in only half of national ICT policies or master plans. Furthermore, the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) Affordability Report 2020 revealed that over 40% of the countries studied lacked meaningful policies or programs to enhance women’s internet access. The WSIS+20 Action Lines (C1, C2, C4, C6, C7), the Global Digital Compact, and Sustainable Development Goal 5 collectively advocate for an inclusive digital future, where gender equality is embedded in connectivity policies, digital infrastructure, and digital rights. However, without intentional gender mainstreaming in digital strategies, millions of women and girls worldwide remain excluded from the benefits of the digital economy. This session explores how global commitments can translate into local action by implementing gender-responsive policies and regulations in national digital master plans and regulatory frameworks. It will highlight best practices from countries that have integrated gender criteria into licensing processes, requiring operators to demonstrate how they will promote women’s digital access and participation. The discussion will showcase grassroots, community-led connectivity initiatives that have expanded affordable internet access for women while addressing digital safety concerns through training programs designed to protect women from online risks. Lastly the session will examine policy and regulatory interventions that can accelerate women’s digital inclusion, such as innovative financing mechanisms, data-driven policymaking, and cross-sector partnerships.
Despite global efforts to close the digital gender gap, women continue to face significant barriers in accessing financial, educational, social, and health resources in the digital age. This disparity is especially pronounced in low-income countries, where digital exclusion remains a critical challenge. In 2022, only 21% of women in these countries had access to the internet, compared to 92% in high-income nations. While some governments have introduced policies to address the digital divide, gender mainstreaming in ICT policy and regulation remains limited or absent. According to the ITU, gender is explicitly referenced in only half of national ICT policies or master plans. Furthermore, the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) Affordability Report 2020 revealed that over 40% of the countries studied lacked meaningful policies or programs to enhance women’s internet access. The WSIS+20 Action Lines (C1, C2, C4, C6, C7), the Global Digital Compact, and Sustainable Development Goal 5 collectively advocate for an inclusive digital future, where gender equality is embedded in connectivity policies, digital infrastructure, and digital rights. However, without intentional gender mainstreaming in digital strategies, millions of women and girls worldwide remain excluded from the benefits of the digital economy. This session explores how global commitments can translate into local action by implementing gender-responsive policies and regulations in national digital master plans and regulatory frameworks. It will highlight best practices from countries that have integrated gender criteria into licensing processes, requiring operators to demonstrate how they will promote women’s digital access and participation. The discussion will showcase grassroots, community-led connectivity initiatives that have expanded affordable internet access for women while addressing digital safety concerns through training programs designed to protect women from online risks. Lastly the session will examine policy and regulatory interventions that can accelerate women’s digital inclusion, such as innovative financing mechanisms, data-driven policymaking, and cross-sector partnerships.
Expected Outcomes
Participants will gain actionable tips and practical tools to advocate for and foster an enabling environment for gender-responsive digital policymaking.
The session will reinforce the alignment of national and regional policies with global frameworks such as the WSIS+20 Action Lines, the Global Digital Compact, and SDG 5.
It will contribute to ensuring that gender equality remains a core priority in the WSIS+20 agenda and beyond.
Policymakers and regulators will gain practical insights and depart the session equipped with tools to design and implement gender-responsive digital policies.
Hybrid Format: The session design will prioritize inclusivity, recognizing that participants have varying levels of participation due to differences in technology access, digital literacy, language, accessibility, internet connectivity, public speaking skills, and other factors. The pace of the discussion will be carefully adapted to accommodate the needs and contexts of both online and in-person participants. The workshop will allocate dedicated time for all participants, whether attending virtually or onsite. The session will be supported by both onsite and online facilitators who will ensure that all voices are heard. They will manage the flow of discussion, taking into account the time required for technical adjustments, such as muting/unmuting, addressing connectivity issues, and resolving other tech-related challenges. Additionally, session notes will be compiled and shared with all attendees afterwards.