Participants at the session on “Gender Equality and Inclusion in our Digital Future: A new gender deal for WSIS+20” – organised by WACC and the Global Alliance on Media and Gender (GAMAG) – called on the UN system, governments, media and digital communication companies, and civil society movements to support the inclusion of a new gender deal in the digital ecosystem.
Key actions would include interrogating existing norms and reinforcing mechanisms to strengthen gender equality within the technology sector, and implementing actions designed to respond to urgent identified needs.
Thematic aspects that might be included in the WSIS Forum 2025 should cover: Building an Information Society founded on feminist principles of equity, equality, inclusion, fairness and justice; tackling online misogyny and tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV); and transforming gender norms in the online space to enable respect for women’s digital rights, including the right to participate in all aspects of tech ecosystems.
This year’s WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event was the scene of intensive talking, but with a limited exchange of diverse opinions. Many plenary sessions were panel discussions based around three-minute interventions with little or no time for questions and responses. While everyone agreed that digital technologies could be used for the greater social good, there was less consensus around how they should be deployed.
“Leaving no one behind” remains the mantra, but huge disparities remain between the 5.4 billion people now digitally connected, let alone the 2.6 billion people still living without the internet.
The ITU is serious about tackling the digital divide. As such, and in contrast to this year’s hierarchical UN-leaders and government ministers’ approach, WSIS+20 (Geneva, 7–13 June 2025) should place civil society organisations at the top of the agenda.