The Beijing Platform for Action Meets the World Summit on the Information Society

3. CONNECTING WSIS ICT POLOCY WITH HEALTH IN THE BPFA

BPFA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:

1 Provide women with good, affordable health care, information and related services, throughout their life cycle.

2 Strengthen prevention programmes that promote women's health.

3 Establish gender-sensitive procedures for sexually-transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health issues.

4 Promote research and disseminate information on women's health.

5 Increase resources and monitor follow-up for women's health.

EXAMPLES OF ICT USE/POTENTIAL:

Health centers situated in low income communities and equipped with ICTs are offering women information on a range of health issues, services available to them and "how to" steps for coping with common diseases.

Women's organizations in different countries are using the internet to collectively develop and share "best practices" and "best materials" on such issues as HIV/AIDS.

Women's health communicators and educators are using email and online discussion groups to share successful approaches and strategies for addressing critical health issues for women.

An umbrella website that serves as a portal to women and HIV/AIDS information has recently been launched, thus providing women with access to a range of information from new research findings to training tools.

WHAT GENDER ADVOCATES ARE FIGHTING FOR IN THE WSIS POLICY DOCUMENTS

Use ICTs to prepare and disseminate accessible information that strengthens prevention programmes that promote women's health such as education and information on sexual and reproductive health issues and on sexually
transmitted disease and HIV/AIDS.

Eliminate obstacles encountered by groups of women, such as poor and sick women, women farmers, older women, women with disabilities and unemployed women in accessing ICT information, education and training.

Support the strategic use of traditional and new ICTs to strengthen women's networking initiatives and community based activities that defend the rights of women to goodhealth and that support their ability to participate equally and without discrimination in civil and public life.