Information and communication technologies (ICTs)
play a growing role in the world's societies, and
have the potential to help disadvantaged groups increase
their participation in the civic, social, political,
and economic processes critical to achieving change.
However, women particularly women in developing
countries dont benefit from these new
technologies, a reflection of the existing unequal
power relations in societies as a whole. ICTs can
be used to either exacerbate or transform unequal
power relations. ICTs cannot create gender equality,
or end poverty, but they can be tools for social action
and positive social change.
In 2005, the Gender and ICT Awards focus was on empowerment,
specifically ICT initiatives that promote womens
economic empowerment as it relates to development.
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A Help-line, vocational
CDs and eHomeworkers get thumbs up in Tunis
While negotiations on internet
governance were taking place a few corridors
down the hall on November 16, three projects
received the honours of the 2005 Gender and
ICT Awards. The 2005 GICT Awards focussed on
information and communication technology initiatives
which promote women's economic empowerment and
development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Read about
Gender and ICT Awards Winner and Runners Up
at the World Summit on the Information Society.
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A
mobile operatar lady from the Pallitathya
Helpline assists a rural family in Bangladesh.
Rural community members can contact a database
to ask for health or market requests via a cell
phone and the mobile operator lady. Read
about the 2005 Award winners! |
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