“Technology and Gender Equality: a challenge or an opportunity?” panel, brought by IPKO Foundation at WPS Forum
On Day II of the International Forum for Women, Peace, and Security, organized by the initiative of President Vjosa Osmani, the panel "Technology and Gender Equality: Challenge or Opportunity?!" was held, organized by the IPKO Foundation and the Office of the President, to discuss the participation of women in the digital ecosystem, recognizing their valuable contribution to building peace and reducing gender inequality.
The panel, which was moderated by the Ambassador of Women in Tech Kosovo, Teuta Sahatqija, brought different perspectives regarding the impact of technology in the advancement of gender equality with well-known speakers, such as:
- Katrina Fotovat - Senior official to the Secretary of State in the office of Global Women's Issues
- Tamara Srzentic - Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media of Montenegro (2020 - 2021)
- Arbesa Kastrati - V.P., Strategy and Implementation at DAZN
- Roxanne Turner - Women, Peace, and Security Research Fellow at the U.S. Department of Defense Facility, The Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies, in Honolulu, Hawaii; and
- Mergim Cahani - Founder & CEO of Gjirafa.Inc
This panel highlighted important topics since women's participation in the digital ecosystem remains challenged by systematic gender-based bias in the age of technology. From lack of participation and access to harassment and abuse, women's experiences in technology and digital platforms often amplify inequalities. For policymakers, the costs of ignoring these trends could lead to new technology, peace and security structures, and processes that weaken core human rights and gender equality norms. Although women have benefited from outstanding possibilities on the internet and via new technologies, both in terms of power and visibility and in terms of access and opportunities, they are also at threat of violence in dire ways in the digital world. On the other hand, women in conflict areas are increasingly turning to technology to build peace and reduce gender inequality in conflict and war zones. Given the role of technology in facilitating political engagement and development, attention to the digital divide could provide new modalities for women to offer input into peace processes and other WPS initiatives. Among other things, the panel shed light on important topics, such as:
- The repeating gendered problems in the digital ecosystem as an early warning indicator of systemic weaknesses and failures of the current policies.
- The importance of understanding gender dynamics and their significance for the future of technology development and technology and policy-making.
- The lack of awareness about existing international human rights and gender equality frameworks among those working in the technology space.
- The importance of standardizing commonly accepted definitions of the various forms of violence targeting women online
- The hindrance that online violence poses to women's representation in leadership and decision-making roles
#WPSRKS2022 held its first edition in Pristina for two days in a row, with more than 400 local and international participants, presenting one of Kosovo's commitments to the Summit for Democracy, organized by the U.S. president, Joe Biden.