Meeting concludes with declaration on gender equality in the information
society
By Mercy Wambui, Communication Officer, ECA
03 October 2005
Gender activists and public sector representatives known as "National
machineries" adopted a draft declaration that seeks to advance gender
equality in addressing the digital divide. The final declaration will be
presented at the forthcoming World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
to be held in Tunis, November 2005.
The meeting, "Strengthening the capacity of national machineries through
the effective use of ICT, was hosted by the Economic Commission for Africa
and the UN Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) from 28-30 September
2005 in Addis Ababa. (see below)
Speaking at the closing session, Ms. Roselyn Odera, Chief, Gender Analysis
Section, DAW noted that many of the national machineries are at different
stages of development, with varying use and experience in ICTs. "ICTs are
not just about computers - there are other tools involved and we will try
and use them more effectively from now on," She said.
She hailed the intensity of the 3-day meeting and highlighted some key
achievements. "We have proposed concrete actions, looked at various
national ICT policies and how gender perspectives should be integrated into
them". She said, adding, "The draft declaration contains the main issues
that the national machineries will bring to the attention of African
Ministers attending the WSIS meeting in November."
Participants agreed to engage in regular consultations among themselves
through an electronic network whose coordination will be facilitated by
volunteers from Djibouti, Ghana and Togo.
National machineries, are focal points in government units set up to
support gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the development
frameworks of member States as outlined in the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action.
For information on the final copy of the Declaration, contact Atsuko Okuda
([EMAIL PROTECTED]) for more information.
http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/news/100305dna_disd.htm
Mainstreaming ICT in national gender empowerment agenda
By Mercy Wambui, Communication Officer, ECA
28 September 2005
The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) of the United Nations
Secretariat and the Development Information Services Division (DISD) of the
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) begun a 3-day meeting "Strengthening
the capacity of national machineries through the effective use of ICT" from
28 to 30 September 2005 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa.
http://www.uneca.org/eca_resources/news/092805dna_disd.htm
(Haven't seen this publicised anywhere else and thought it might be of
interest to some on the list - JW)
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