(Oranjestad)—Today marks the celebration for International Women’s day. For this year’s theme, the United Nations is focusing on “an inclusive digital world: Innovation and Technology for gender equality,” which focuses on women’s accessibility to technology around the world.
The UN’s goal for this year is to pay homage to the activists and organizations that fight for technology and education transformed by women and who explore the effects of the digital gap between the genders in the rise of social and economic inequality. Emphasis will be placed on the protection of women’s rights in the digital space and online gender violence will be tackled.
Nowadays, human life depends strongly on digital integration, like online courses, virtual meeting, connecting with loved ones, making online appointments. However, 37% of women do not have access to technology.
Globally, 63% of women around the world have access to the internet compared to the 69% of men who have access. This gap is closing each year, but in developing countries, the difference is still significant.
The UN remarks that if these women cannot have access to the internet and if there is no system where they can safely surf the digital world, they may never be able to develop the digital skills necessary for everyday life, which may generate a loss of opportunities in life, and loss of careers related to science and technology.
They will make sure that 75% of jobs around the world relate to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) areas by 2050. Currently, women occupy only 22% of the positions in these areas and their access to the digital world is even less, especially in developing countries.
“Incorporating women and young girls in technology and digital education will allow for more creative solutions and will have a bigger potential for innovations that will satisfy the need of women to promote equality between genders and spark activism. The lack of inclusion has a big cost,” The UN stated.
In connection to this celebration, HIAS Aruba, along with ACNUR will be organizing workshops during the month of March to empower women in the field of technology, beauty, art and self-care.
On March 7th and 8th, there will be workshops to help women use social media and work with different online tools that can benefit them in the future. On March 14th, there will be a workshop on wood art. On March 15th, there will be a workshop focusing on the use of eco-friendly products for self-care. During this workshop, women will learn how to make their own eco-friendly and organic products.
