The Pan-African Parliament Women's Caucus joined the rest of the world in observance and celebration of women with calls for governments and national Parliaments to give priority to national initiatives that uplift women in digital technologies.
This year's International Women's Day theme "For an inclusive digital world: Innovation and Technologies for Gender Equality," sought to recognize and celebrate the contribution of women and girls' advances in transformative technologies and digital education.
The commemorations, held at the PAP headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Sittings of the PAP Permanent Committees which kicked off on 6 March to 17 March 2023 and are running under the AU theme of the year "The Year of AcFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area."
Speaking at the high-level celebrations to mark International Women's Day, the Chairperson of the PAP Women's Caucus, Hon Amina Tidjani Yaya, implored governments to prioritize national strategies to improve access to digital technologies by women.
"We call upon governments and national Parliaments to give priority to the national strategies on the development of digital technologies to assist women and girls to get capital to become leaders, business women and positive change agents. The capacity to provide jobs and equal opportunities in information and communication technologies for both boys and girls should be looked at," said Hon Amina Tidjani Yaya.
Recognizing the power wielded by digital technologies, Hon Khadija Arouhal, Vice Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, said digital technologies are a means to achieve gender parity.
"Digital technologies are a tool to achieve gender equality because women in developing countries still lag behind in using technologies. We need to harness the use of these technologies for the betterment of women," proffered Hon Khadija Arouhal.
Chairperson of the PAP Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and Technology Hon Behdja Lammali noted that development cannot take place without reducing the digital gap that exists between males and females:
"Capital should be directed at addressing the digital gap between males and females. Development cannot be achieved without reducing the gap as there is inequality in the distribution of digital wealth."
In closing the celebrations, PAP 3rd Vice President, Hon Lucia Maria Mendes Goncalves dos Passos reiterated calls to ensure women fully participate and recognize the full potential in digital technologies.
"A society can never be developed if it does not recognize the contribution of women in developmental issues. We need to start using Parliamentary diplomacy in ensuring women participate fully in digital technologies by dedicating funds specifically for the development and inclusion of women in digital technologies in their respective countries. We are making a commitment that we will be accountable and that our voices will be loud to make sure women are heard in this sphere. We need to work together with governments and civil society to build an inclusive society," said Hon Lucia Maria Mendes Goncalves dos Passos.
Participants at the commemorations called for the urgent creation of safe digital spaces that do not exacerbate the abuse of women and girls. This entails the enactment of laws that protect women and girls against cyber crimes such as cyberbullying and sexual predators.
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