In depth

Women developing FLOSS - freedom for knowlege free from prejudice

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 6,480 views
Sulamita Garcia is a 28-year-old consultant who specialises in Unix systems and is completely enthusiastic about free and open source software. She is responsible for the LinuxChix Brasil project. In this interview for GenderIT, Sulamita tells about the recent experience of LinuxChix Brasil, which is delivering online courses on FLOSS for women. She speaks about prejudice, stereotypes and the…

In depth

Women too look at wireless networking, to bridge the gaps

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 5,328 views
Wireless networks is attracting growing attention across the globe, as a plausible way of providing internet access in marginal areas or in cases where costs are prohibitive. Cristo Redentor Telecentre co-ordinator Cristina Ojeda joined a workshop on wireless networking organized by the Latin American School of Networking EsLaRed) in Mérida, Venezuela and narrates her experience.

In depth

After sessions ending at 4 am, do gender issues count?

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 4,595 views
The belief that technology is gender-neutral is still rife. Representatives of international organisations, financing institutions, and governments simply overlook gender concerns in ICTs (information and communication technologies). Dafne Plou, APC WNSP regional coordinator for Latin America and Caribbean, reflects on her recent experience at regional World Summit on the Information Society…

In depth

Gender and ICT policies: it's time to reorder our forces and understand what is happening

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 5,012 views
Magaly Pazello is the only Brazilian feminist who’s been active in the WSIS process since its inception. A member of the WSIS Gender Caucus, she is also member of the DAWN network - Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era. In the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference, held in June 2005 in Rio de Janeiro, Graciela Selaimen interviewed Magaly Pazello, speaking…

In depth

WSIS Rio regional meeting: very few doors open for the gender perspective

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 4,156 views
No participation of civil society as observers in the governmental delegations' meetings; no gender working group in the final regional action plan ELac 2007; almost no women, black people or indigenous people as panelists. Although the Rio WSIS Regional Meeting opened two slots for civil society statements in the plenary and produced documents which were fairly positively received by NGOs and…

In depth

Opening Eyes in Jamaica

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:19 | 3,082 views
Hilary Nicholson, member of Women’s Media Watch, shares her experience and impressions on participating in the Global Media Monitoring Day in Jamaica. Her article shows the expectancies and reactions of twelve women who volunteered to participate in this initiative, last February. To some of them, enlightening, to others, unsettling - to all of them an eye-opener experience, after which the…

In depth

The Latin American and Caribbean Regional Ministerial Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on the Information Society, from the point of view of the NGOs

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:18 | 4,580 views
The Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Conference (one of the Preparatory Conferences for the World Summit on the Information Society) was held in Bávaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from the 29th to the 31st of January, 2003. In this article, Magaly Pazello, a member of the DAWN network, makes a report of the event and points out the small participation of women's groups and feminist…

In depth

Latin american women take on the internet

Posted Wed 2 Jun 2010 - 00:18 | 5,854 views
"Information technology obviously will not solve the world's problems. But wisely deployed and developed, it has proven to be a powerful tool for advancing social causes. One of the social groups that has been most dynamic in using this technology innovatively for social progress, is the women's movement; and in many aspects, the South has exerted leadership in this process."

Publication

Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia: Cross-country Study on Violence against Women and Information Communication Technologies

Posted Tue 1 Jun 2010 - 23:38 | 10,348 views

María Isabel and María Alejandra Davidziuk compare the findings of four national reports from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia undertaken as part of the APC WNSP project “Strengthening women’s strategic use of ICTs to combat violence against women and girls”. In their analysis they look at some barriers (both institutional and cultural) that need to be overcome in order for ICTs to be…

Publication

Argentina: Violence against Women and Information Communication Technologies

Posted Tue 1 Jun 2010 - 23:38 | 10,414 views
Cristina Peralta examines the situation in Argentina, where few cases of VAW using ICTs have been denounced. One study found that a small percentage of young girls had been contacted by unknown people via chat or Facebook before disappearing. Cell phones are also used for controlling women's mobility and have become one of the first artifacts to be destroyed by the partner during violent…