Women speak on digital skills as a tool for gender equality
Providence Moyo, Senior Reporter
Women’s organisations have called for improved access to the internet and enhanced digital and technological skills for women. This emerged during commemorations for the International Women’s Day themed ‘DigiALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.’
Speaking during commemorations hosted by Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), the organisation’s Information Officer, Lorraine Phiri said women and girls’ rights must be protected on digital spaces.
“Women’s rights are digital rights and as such, more needs to be done to protect the rights of women and girls in all their diversity in digital spaces and to collectively encounter the anti- rights and anti-gender narratives used by groups to misinform societies and undermine the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality,” said Phiri.
She also highlighted the need to upgrade all 2G base stations to 4G as the 2G is segregatory by nature as it has limited access.
Speaking during the same engagement, a legal practitioner Amanda Phiri emphasised the need for women to be knowledgeable in technology as this would assist in fighting cyber attacks and abuse.
Senzeni, a participant, said most of the systems have moved from being manual to automated ones,hence the need for improved tech skills like entrance login systems, records systems. “If one lacks the necessary digital skills there is a disadvantage of having to depend on other people,” she said.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) expressed concern over structural and systematic barriers that hinder women and girls from development and empowerment.
According to a circular shared by ZGC these barriers “…prevent women and girls from being equipped with resources, technology, knowledge, awareness and skills to leverage connectivity for social, political and social empowerment.”
Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust (ZWACT) said noted that the digital divide increases women’s vulnerability to discrimination and that access to technology will give women an opportunity to be well informed on pertinent issues like sexual and reproductive health.
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March.
