Feminist reflection on internet policies

Changing the way you see ICT

Previous Editions

This edition reflects on the feminist politics and practices of technology within the broader debates around economic justice and women’s rights at the 12th AWID Forum that ran from April 19 to 22, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. GenderIT.orgi's writers and partners report on the opportunities presented by open interneti for women’s organizing ranging from online mapping of street harassment, documenting video testimonies of women or producing powerful infographics. A number of the contributions spell out the challenges. "As we rely more and more on social media for our activism," writes one contributor, "knowing about security and privacy is really key." The authors also question the notion of 'free online services' and critique governmentis and private corporations for censorship, surveillancei and monetization of our relationships, networks and communications for the purpose of profit. This edition is therefore also a call to connect and act. As Jan Moolman highlighted in her editorial:"unless women are at the table where decisions around governing the internet are made by governments and corporations,..., women will be on the menu."

Photo of the photo-art exhibit at the 12the AWID forum honoring and celebrating the lives and work of feminists by AWID. Used with permission.

This edition reflects on the feminist politics and practices of technology within the broader debates around economic justice and women’s rights at the 12th AWID Forum that ran from April 19 to 22, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. GenderIT.orgi's writers and partners report on the opportunities presented by open interneti for women’s organizing ranging from online mapping of street harassment, documenting video testimonies of women or producing powerful infographics. A number of the contributions spell out the challenges.

From 21 May to 4 June 2012, the second cycle of the Human Rightsi Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR)i will begin at the UN Office at Geneva. The UPR is a unique mechanism for stateis and governmentis to tell other countries what they have achieved in promoting human rights – but also for non-state actors to raise issues of concern in a non-confrontational fashion. This edition of GenderIT.orgi will allow you to learn more about the current discussions about women's human rightsi on the interneti, with a particular focus on the submission of country reports for Brazil, Ecuador and Phillipines for the UPR process made by APC and their partners. These reports raise for the first time that internet-related women's human rightsi issues as part of the UPR.

From 21 May to 4 June 2012, the second cycle of the Human Rightsi Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR)i will begin at the UN Office in Geneva. The UPR is a unique mechanism for stateis to tell other countries what they have achieved in promoting human rights – but also for non-state actors to raise issues of concern in a non-confrontational fashion.

The 12th AWID International Forum will gather up to 2000 women’s rights leaders and activists from around the world from April 19 to 22, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum will look at the question: how economic power is impacting on women, their rights and the planet?

The 12th AWID International Forum will gather up to 2000 women’s rights leaders and activists from around the world from April 19 to 22, 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum will look at the question: how economic power is impacting on women, their rights and the planet?

Taking control of technology to end violence against women

Posted 15 December, 2011 - 08:30

As the year comes to a close, GenderIT.orgi is bringing you one more special edition, this time on the recent Take Back the Tech!i campaign. The 2011 campaign shed new light on the issue of technology-mediated violence against womeni, through its documenting and evidence-building efforts. The edition gathers an impressive amount of articles which capture the nature of this year´s Take Back the Tech! campaign, as well as highlight some of the abundant and meaningful resources developed during the 16 days of activism. As the Take Back the Tech! campaign coordinator, Jac sm Kee, says in her editorial: we sincerely hope you enjoy this edition as “a great snapshot into this creative and groundbreaking movement”.

Below you will find new articles and featured resources that are part of this edition.

As the year comes to a close, GenderIT.orgi is bringing you one more special edition, this time on the recent Take Back the Tech!i campaign. The 2011 campaign shed new light on the issue of technology-mediated violence against womeni, through its documenting and evidence-building efforts.

Gender Peripheries of the 2011 Internet Governance Forum

Posted 18 October, 2011 - 10:04

Year after year the Internet Governance Forum irenews expectations and opportunities of gender iadvocates to find innovative solutions to enhance women's rightsi online and offline. After 6 years of activism, this space still seems to be resistant to the inclusion of gender perspectives and activists are faced with more questions than answers. Where are women's rightsi on the internet governancei agenda? How to get the women's movements more involved within this new arena of public policyi? How to replace the protectionist approach that traditionally surrounds women's rights defence with one that is rights-based? Along with Jennifer Radloff who introduces this edition we believe it is a responsibility of all stakeholders ito make women's rights relevant and visible in the IGF debates, and to do so gender analysisi and women's participation needs to be much more institucionalised in the planning of the next IGF.

Year after year the Internet Governance Forum irenews expectations and opportunities of gender iadvocates to find innovative solutions to enhance women's rightsi online and offline. After 6 years of activism, this space still seems to be resistant to the inclusion of gender perspectives and activists arefaced with more questions than answers. Where are women's rightsi on the internet governancei agenda? How to get the women's movements more involved within this new arena of public policyi?

This edition of GenderIT.orgi is dedicated to women human rights defendersi. Those working on women's and sexual rightsi often face challenges not only in the public space, but in their personal space, from their family and partners, as well. In this edition, we examine what new dimension brings ICTis into this struggle, how they are used to mobilize around women's and sexual rights, and the risks many defenders face online. Security emerged as not only one of the main topics in our interviews but also in living practice, forcing us to question and change our communication protocols in order to pull this edition together without jeopardizing the safety of our interviewees. We hope then that you find the readings engaging!

This edition of GenderIT.orgi is dedicated to women human rights defendersi. Those working on women's and sexual rightsi often face challenges not only in the public space, but in their personal space, from their family and partners, as well. In this edition, we examine what new dimension brings ICTis into this struggle, how they are used to mobilize around women's and sexual rights, and the risks many defenders face online.

EroTICs: Sex, rights, and the net - part 2

Posted 9 August, 2011 - 16:42

After 3 years of interrogation into the politics of sexuality and the interneti, the EROTICSi research is out! This second part of the GenderIT.orgi edition 'EroTICs: Sex, rights, and the net' publish the full research findings that delve into the complexities of policyi and legislative trends on internet content regulationi, map key actors and processes, and document how sexuality figures as a central theme in this debate.

EroTICs: Sex, rights, and the net - part 1

Posted 29 June, 2011 - 16:42

In 2008 the APC Women's Programme began a two and a half year research project looking into the role of sexuality online. The study, called Exploratory Research on Sexuality and ICTis -- or "EroTICsi" -- looked at the experiences of a diversity of users, primarily women and girls of different ages, classes, sexual orientations and identities. Research was conducted in five countries: Brazil, India, Lebanon, South Africa and the United Stateis. This two-part edition of GenderIT aims to present this evidence-based research to inform the policyi debate and decision-making processes

In 2008 the APC Women's Programme began a two and a half year research project looking into the role of sexuality online. The study, called Exploratory Research on Sexuality and ICTis -- or "EroTICs" -- looked at the experiences of a diversity of users, primarily women and girls of different ages, classes, sexual orientations and identities. Research was conducted in five countries: Brazil, India, Lebanon, South Africa and the United Stateis.

Women's rights and the Internet: Take Action

Posted 25 May, 2011 - 15:07

This year the annual report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expressioni and Opinion focuses for the first time on the interneti. Over recent decades, the internet has become a platform for shared learning, innovation, and collaborative action for justice. Yet, as the report details, freedom of expression and association on the internet is increasingly at risk. It is imperative that women’s rights to freedom of expression and association not be restricted. However, many are silenced through acts of violence, sexism iand censorship. We call on all Stateis to take immediate steps to end acts of violence, harassment and other human rightsi violations committed against women who choose to exercise their right to freedom of expression on the internet.

This year the annual report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expressioni and Opinion focuses for the first time on the interneti. Over recent decades, the internet has become a platform for shared learning, innovation, and collaborative action for justice. Yet, as the report details, freedom of expression and association on the internet is increasingly at risk.

On 3 May join Communication Is Your Right! and the GenderIT.orgi's sister project Take Back the Tech!i for a global action day to defend our right to freely access, use, engage and share information and opinions and become our own media through information and communication technologies.

On 3 May join Communication Is Your Right! and the GenderIT.orgi's sister project Take Back the Tech!i for a global action day to defend our right to freely access, use, engage and share information and opinions and become our own media through information and communication technologies (ICTi).

User login