On October 7 AUDRi, along with the Association of Progressive Communications, UNFPA, Equality Now, Pollicy, Derechos Digitales, UN Women, and the Digital Rights Foundation host “Gender in the Global Digital Compact”, a conference which aims to bridge the gap between member states and civil society organisations, focusing on gender as a cross-cutting theme in the development and implementation of the Global Digital Compact.
The United Nations’ Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is one of the most important events on the digital rights calendar, bringing together diverse stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues related to the Internet and the digital world. This year’s meeting will be held in Kyoto, Japan, under the overall theme of “The Internet We Want – Empowering All People”.
We are led by our belief that “empowering all people” can only be achieved in a regulated digital environment which is safe and inclusive for everyone, including women and marginalized communities who often experience violence, discrimination, and exclusion in digital spaces.
Principles for the Inclusion of Gender in the GDC
The conference has two key objectives: First, it aims to consolidate civil society’s stance by agreeing upon Principles for the Inclusion of Gender in the GDC. Second, these principles will be presented to and discussed with representatives of Member States, aiming to influence the international agreements that will shape digital regulation.
We can’t afford to let governments and corporations be the sole drafters of our digital futures. Civil society groups offer ground-level perspectives that are invaluable for shaping fair, inclusive digital policies. This is especially true when addressing challenges such as gender-based online violence and algorithmic discrimination, which disproportionately affect women and gender minorities.
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More about the Global Digital Compact:
The Global Digital Compact (GDC) is a global set of rules suggested by the United Nations Secretary-General. Its goal is to set common standards for a safe, open, and accessible digital future for everyone. The Global Digital Compact is expected to be agreed by member states next September and negotiations on the text will start at the end of this year.
