WSIS Action Lines for Advancing the Achievement of SDGs | IGF 2023 Open Forum #5

Audience

The audience emphasised the importance of supporting both girls and boys in their upbringing to grow and work together in equality. They highlighted the need to provide equal opportunities to children, regardless of their gender, to ensure a more balanced and fair society. The audience strongly believed that promoting gender equality from a young age is essential for building a future where both genders can collaborate and thrive.

Another important topic discussed was the need for a broader understanding and definition of online gender-based violence. The audience provided an example of how online platforms were used for propaganda and justification of rape in the context of war in Ethiopia. They argued that online gender-based violence goes beyond direct physical harm and includes harmful ideologies promoted on various digital platforms. The audience called for a more comprehensive approach to address this issue and stressed the importance of recognizing and combating these harmful practices online.

The audience also questioned the extent to which actions in various sectors truly reflect feminist principles. They argued that feminist analysis and gender sensitivity are not always enough, and there is a need for substantial action to address gender inequalities. The audience urged sectors to reflect on their practices and ensure that their actions align with feminist values, rather than merely performing a surface-level gender analysis.

In terms of LGBTQ rights and inclusion, the audience emphasised the importance of involving the LGBTQ community as active allies and contributors of knowledge. They highlighted the need to move beyond tokenistic inclusion and actively seek the perspectives and expertise of the LGBTQ community to create a more inclusive and equal society.

The audience also discussed the influence of the global North on the conceptualisations and terminologies of feminism, particularly in Africa. They pointed out that conceptualisations and funding often come from the global North, leading to a disconnect at the ground level in Africa. This raised questions about the applicability and relevance of feminist concepts in different regions and emphasised the need for more local and context-specific approaches to gender equality.

Cyber harassment and women’s digital rights were identified as significant barriers to women’s participation in business and politics. The audience noted that women face challenges such as cyber harassment and infringements on their digital rights, which discourage them from actively engaging in these domains.

On a positive note, the audience found that engaging through political ideologies online can help mitigate cyber harassment faced by women. They highlighted that women who engage with political ideologies face less cyber harassment and bullying, suggesting that political engagement can provide a protective environment for women online.

Moreover, the audience agreed with the need for diverse views in policy formulation and the inclusion of women’s perspectives. They emphasised the importance of women’s experiences and expertise in shaping policies that address the specific issues faced by women. The audience shared examples of women advocating for their inclusion in policy discussions and providing evidence from reports highlighting the challenges that women face.

The diversity of perspectives in defining feminism was also acknowledged, with differences observed between the global North and South. The audience highlighted the huge diversity of feminist perspectives in Germany, for example. This diversity raised difficulties in defining feminism and emphasised the need for ongoing dialogue and understanding among various feminist viewpoints.

In terms of development interventions, the struggle to translate observations into practice was highlighted. The audience emphasised the importance of evidence-based interventions to address gender inequalities effectively. They called for a more concerted effort to bridge the gap between observations and practical implementation.

The audience also highlighted the challenges women face when filing complaints online, as non-feasible practices discourage them from doing so. They emphasised the need for user-friendly platforms and processes that encourage women to report online harassment without fear of retribution.

Another important point raised was the demand for keeping online platforms accountable for their role in perpetuating gender-based violence. The audience called for the implementation of measures that hold online platforms responsible for the content and actions within their domains, ensuring a safer online environment for everyone.

Finally, the audience agreed that improved attention to the specific issues faced by women is necessary in policy making. They stressed the importance of policy formulation that takes into account the unique obstacles and challenges faced by women, thus promoting gender equality and social progress.

In conclusion, the audience’s discussions covered a wide range of topics related to gender equality, feminism, LGBTQ rights, online harassment, policy formulation, and development interventions. They emphasised the importance of supporting both girls and boys from a young age and called for a more comprehensive understanding of online gender-based violence. The audience urged sectors to translate feminist principles into meaningful action and involve the LGBTQ community as contributors and allies. They acknowledged the influence of the global North on feminist concepts in Africa, highlighted the barriers faced by women in business and politics, and advocated for engagement through political ideologies as a means to mitigate cyber harassment. The importance of diverse views, women’s perspectives in policy formulation, and evidence-based interventions were also discussed. Challenges in defining feminism and the need for platform accountability were raised, along with the call for improved attention to the specific issues faced by women in policy making.

Moderator – Towela Jere

The African Union is actively developing multiple strategies for digital transformation, with a strong emphasis on the importance of gender inclusion. These strategies are aimed at various sectors, including agriculture, health, and education. Recognising the need for gender inclusiveness in digitalisation, the African Union is committed to addressing the challenges and barriers that exist in this area.

It is widely agreed that digital transformation and inclusiveness must take into account the perspectives and needs of women. The implementation and benefits of digital strategies should be inclusive of women, ensuring that their voices and concerns are heard and addressed. This is crucial for achieving gender equality and ensuring that women are not left behind in the digital revolution.

Panel discussions have also been taking place to explore and address the issue of gender inclusiveness in digitalisation. These discussions provide a platform for stakeholders to share their experiences, insights, and ideas on overcoming challenges and promoting inclusivity. By delving into these issues, greater understanding and actionable solutions can be achieved.

However, concerns remain regarding the overall policy landscape in Africa in terms of women’s inclusion. Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo has highlighted the lack of targeted policy implementation and development for women in the region. There is also a lack of a harmonised approach to gender issues at different levels. It is argued that women must be adequately included in all aspects of policymaking, policy implementation, and research, rather than being treated as charity or token representation.

Research and data also play a critical role in understanding gender issues in Africa. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of available research on women-related issues in the region, making it difficult to effectively address these issues. It is essential to conduct comprehensive research and collect accurate data to inform policies and initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality.

Lastly, women are encouraged to take the lead in holding institutions accountable for the implementation of policies and strategies. This involves actively participating in decision-making processes and ensuring that women’s perspectives are valued and integrated. By doing so, women can drive change and ensure that institutions are held accountable for their commitments to gender equality.

In conclusion, the African Union recognises the significance of gender inclusion in digital transformation strategies. The challenges and barriers to gender inclusiveness in digitalisation are being addressed. Implementing digital strategies inclusively, engaging in panel discussions, addressing policy gaps, promoting research and data collection, and encouraging women’s leadership are all key components in achieving gender equality in Africa.

Alice Munyua

Alice Munyua is a trailblazer in the field of digital policy-making, having made significant contributions to the advancement of technology and women’s representation in the industry. She has an impressive track record, having worked with prestigious organisations such as the Vatican, Kenya’s government, and Mozilla. Munyua’s involvement in the World Summit on the Information Society has helped shed light on the gender gap in technology and paved the way for addressing this issue.

In an effort to bridge the understanding and implementation of information and communication technology (ICT) between the government, private sector, and civil society, Munyua founded the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet). Through this initiative, she has been instrumental in creating a platform that promotes collaboration and cooperation in the ICT sector.

Throughout her career, Munyua has faced numerous challenges as a woman in the field, but she has consistently overcome them with resilience and determination. She is a strong advocate for more women in leadership roles and emphasises the need for companies to have a global presence. Munyua recognises the loneliness that women often experience in the technology field and the sometimes hostile environment that they face. To address this, she has made it a priority to ensure female succession in her organisations, ensuring that women have access to opportunities for growth and leadership.

Similarly, Mozilla, a technology company, is also devoted to advancing gender equality. It actively engages and empowers women, with nearly 90% of its executives being women. This demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce. Mozilla places great emphasis on capacity building for women, acknowledging the importance of providing the necessary skills and resources for women to thrive in the technology sector.

Furthermore, Mozilla works collaboratively with organisations such as the African Union and TOELA to find solutions to the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the tech sector. The company conducts research on the startup ecosystem and women entrepreneurs, demonstrating its commitment to empowering women and promoting their participation in the technology industry.

Overall, Alice Munyua and Mozilla are both playing significant roles in advancing gender equality and empowering women in the technology sector. They serve as inspiring examples for other individuals and organisations to follow. By prioritising women’s representation and actively engaging and supporting them, they are contributing to a more inclusive and diverse industry.

Sonya Annasha Bonita

The research conducted by Policy in 2019-2020 in five African countries highlights the issue of online harassment faced by women in leadership positions, human rights defenders, and women in the media industry. The study reveals that these groups of women are particularly susceptible to online harassment, which can have profound psychological and professional implications for them. This finding underscores the urgent need for action to protect women in these roles from the harmful effects of online harassment.

Furthermore, the research also sheds light on the underreporting and lack of attention given to online gender-based violence against African women. While cases of domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and female genital mutilation are recorded more diligently, cases of online gender-based violence receive less attention. This discrepancy indicates a real gap in addressing and combating online violence against women in Africa. Efforts should be made to acknowledge, document, and respond to this specific form of violence.

The study also reveals that the discriminatory practices faced by women offline are reproduced in online spaces. Women encounter similar harmful behaviours and practices in digital environments, which perpetuate the discrimination they experience in their everyday lives. This finding emphasises the interconnectedness between online and offline spaces, highlighting the need for comprehensive strategies to tackle gender discrimination and violence.

Another crucial aspect highlighted by the research is the inadequacy of existing policies and normative frameworks in addressing online harassment or violence against women. While there are discussions on cybersecurity and discrimination, there is a lack of explicit mention of online violence against women. This absence indicates the need for policymakers to explicitly include online violence against women within existing policies and to develop comprehensive frameworks that address this issue. Without such explicit recognition and actions, women will continue to face the negative consequences of online violence without sufficient protection or support.

In conclusion, the research underscores the importance of making online spaces safer for women, particularly those in leadership positions, human rights defenders, and the media industry. Additionally, it highlights the urgent need for improved policies that explicitly address online harassment and violence against women. By addressing these challenges and ensuring the protection of women in online spaces, significant strides can be made towards achieving gender equality and creating a safer and more inclusive digital environment.

Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo

The analysis reveals significant issues related to gender equality and the digital space in Africa. There is a lack of harmonised policy approaches, leading to fragmentation at the national level. This, coupled with a lack of conceptual understanding and implementation plans, results in little focused policy development for women. Additionally, the digital transformation strategy in Africa lacks accountability, clarity, and measurable outcomes despite being in place for several years.

Research on women and technology in Africa is scarce due to a shortage of African researchers and a lack of data. Nnenna emphasises the importance of understanding and mapping the realities faced by women to address this gap. Prioritising gender issues for digital empowerment is essential, including empowering girls, children, and families. However, Africa’s charter on human rights does not adequately prioritise women’s empowerment.

The analysis also highlights the overlooked areas of rural women and refugees in discussions on internet rights and access for women in Africa. Cyber harassment tends to overshadow the importance of internet access and rights for these underrepresented groups. Furthermore, there is a divide between the global North and South in addressing internet issues, with challenges such as acceptance of LGBTQ rights. Bridging this divide requires collaboration, mutual learning, and a focus on common challenges.

The analysis raises concerns about non-African researchers writing about Africa, which can lack authenticity and understanding of the local context. Publishers’ reluctance to work with African writers exacerbates this issue. Collaboration among different bodies is essential in promoting research platforms and supporting African writers to share their own stories and perspectives.

In summary, the analysis stresses the need for targeted policy implementation, accountability, and clarity in the digital space in Africa. It calls for more research on women and technology, prioritisation of gender issues in digital empowerment, and inclusion of underrepresented groups. Bridging the global North-South divide and promoting collaboration are crucial in addressing internet issues. Emphasising authentic African perspectives through collaboration and supporting local writers is also vital.

Tobias Thiel

Germany has made gender equality a key priority in its development policies. The country aims to allocate 90% of its development corporation portfolio resources globally by 2025 to promote gender equality. The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development has introduced a feminist development policy to support this commitment.

Germany is collaborating with the African Union to eliminate discriminatory structures for women and girls in digitalization and data governance. Through the partnership known as AUDANIPAT, Germany ensures that female voices are included in all activities of the German Development Corporation portfolio.

Recognizing the importance of addressing inequalities in power structures, Germany emphasizes the need to tackle these issues as part of sustainable development. The country acknowledges that sustainable development cannot be achieved without addressing power dynamics and reducing inequalities.

There is a diverse range of feminist perspectives and conceptualizations within Germany and other countries. This diversity poses challenges in labeling feminism due to different interpretations and understandings around the world.

Focusing on common ground and basic issues is paramount when discussing gender equality and reducing inequalities. By emphasizing shared goals and areas of agreement, progress can be made in advancing these causes.

Research findings and evidence-based interventions are crucial in improving development practices. It is important to translate observations into practical interventions to ensure effective and impactful development.

Challenges exist in addressing the obstacles faced by women in accessing digital services. Limited knowledge about the specific obstacles hinders efforts towards gender equality in the digital sphere.

To tackle complex policy environments ingrained in power structures, an effective diagnosis and design of interventions are necessary. Germany recognizes that power structures are deeply embedded in informal structures, ministries, and organizations. Analyzing these environments and implementing tailored interventions are key to promoting sustainable change.

In conclusion, Germany has made gender equality a priority in its development policies. Through a feminist development policy and collaborations with organizations like the African Union, Germany is working towards eliminating discriminatory structures and promoting inclusive development. Challenges remain in addressing diverse feminist perspectives, overcoming obstacles in accessing digital services, and navigating complex policy environments. However, Germany remains committed to evidence-based interventions and finding common ground to achieve gender equality and reduce inequalities.

Anna Margaretha (anriette) Esterhuysen

Progress has been made in involving women in internet governance, although challenges still persist. The African School on Internet Governance has played a significant role in showcasing this progress by ensuring an equal number of women participants. This demonstrates a commitment to gender equality and creates a more inclusive environment in the field.

Women experts in internet governance bring valuable expertise and are essential for balanced decision-making. However, it is often assumed that their primary focus should be on addressing women’s issues, limiting their contributions to a narrow scope. This expectation unfairly restricts their ability to fully engage in broader discussions and decision-making processes.

Gender stereotypes and cultural norms also present obstacles for women in the field. In some cultures, women may face higher expectations to conform to traditional gender roles or may experience a lack of respect for their professional opinions. These challenges highlight the broader issue of gender inequality, which poses a significant barrier to women’s meaningful participation in internet governance.

Despite these challenges, there is evidence of progress. Compared to the early 2000s, there is now more space for women in the field, indicating a positive trend towards greater gender diversity and inclusivity. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this progress should not be taken for granted. Continued efforts are necessary to encourage and support women’s participation, ensuring that their competence and contributions are acknowledged and valued.

It is noteworthy that the sentiment towards women’s involvement in internet governance is mixed. While there is optimism about the progress made, there is also an acknowledgment of the ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. This recognition underscores the need for a proactive approach in actively promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the field.

In conclusion, significant strides have been taken to involve women in internet governance, but there are still obstacles to overcome. The African School on Internet Governance stands as an example of progress, but it is essential to continuously challenge gender stereotypes, cultural norms, and expectations to create a more inclusive and equitable environment. By fostering sensitivity, respect, and acknowledging women’s competence, we can continue to improve the representation and contributions of women in the field of internet governance.

Liz

The participants in the discussion focused on several critical issues regarding gender equality in the digital sphere. They highlighted the disproportionate impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on women, noting their lack of access and representation in this field. They also emphasized that new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, further marginalize women. This negative sentiment stems from the argument that internet governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies suffer from inadequacies in accessibility and representation for women.

However, the discussion also highlighted positive initiatives. One of these initiatives was a project that aimed to build the cybersecurity capabilities of women. Through collaborations with organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and universities, the project sought to empower women in this field by providing training and educational opportunities. This positive sentiment underscores the importance of fostering digital literacy and capacity-building for women in cybersecurity.

Moreover, the session emphasized the significance of formulating inclusive policies and decisions that prioritize women. Notable examples of this were highlighted, such as the efforts to implement policies at Kickternet and to incorporate feminist principles in internet governance at RIA. These initiatives aimed to ensure that policies and decisions are made from a gendered perspective, promoting inclusivity in the digital world.

Additionally, the discussion stressed the need to enhance data and research capacity in order to study the effects of digital inequalities more comprehensively. By developing research capabilities and conducting after-access surveys, it becomes possible to shed light on the realities of access and how women are specifically affected. This positive sentiment underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches to address and mitigate digital disparities.

Furthermore, the conversation explored the influence of varying terminologies and concepts of feminism between the global North and Africa. It was noted that many funding and theoretical influences originate from the global North but often fail to effectively translate into practice on the ground in Africa. Moreover, different conceptualizations of feminism in various African regions contribute to a disconnect. This negative sentiment highlights the need to consider local nuances and realities to effectively empower women in Africa, instead of merely replicating models from the global North.

Additionally, the speakers addressed the issue of cyber harassment and other barriers that impede women’s participation in digital activities, particularly in Africa. The growing online presence of businesses creates difficulties for women who experience cyber harassment, which affects their ability to actively engage in digital spaces. Furthermore, women aspiring to hold political office often face discouragement from cyber harassment and other forms of resistance. These challenges underscore the importance of addressing cyber harassment and fostering an inclusive digital environment for women.

In conclusion, the participants in the discussion emphasized the need to address gender inequalities in the digital realm. They highlighted the lack of accessibility and representation of women in internet governance, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. However, positive initiatives were also recognized, such as the capacity-building efforts in cybersecurity and the formulation of inclusive policies. The significance of conducting research and collecting data to better understand and address digital disparities was also emphasized. Additionally, the discussion shed light on the impact of varying terminologies and concepts of feminism between the global North and Africa. The issue of cyber harassment and other barriers to women’s participation in digital activities, particularly in Africa, was also highlighted. These insights call for a more comprehensive approach that takes into account local nuances and realities to effectively empower women and reduce cyberbullying and violence in the digital space.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
So good morning, good afternoon, good evening to everyone, depending on where you’re joining from. This is the IGF 2023 Open Forum, appropriately titled, Whose Internet? Towards a Feminist Digital Future for Africa. My name is Toela Nyirandajere, I work with the African Union Development Agency in Johannesburg, South Africa, and I lead the Economic Integration Division team. And it is my singular honor and pleasure really to host this session, to moderate and actually co-moderate with my colleague, Alice, who is sitting in the room, and really happy to have both the panelists that are physically present in Kyoto, but also those that are joining online for this particular session. So just to give a bit of context in terms of the discussion that we will have today, I think there’s been a number of exciting developments from the African Union side in terms of the digital transformation strategy, which the Commission has been working on in terms of unpacking that into a number of different policy frameworks and strategies for implementation, including very deliberate strategies related to data policies and data governance, looking at issues of digital ID, looking at issues of the transformative aspects of digitalization as it applies to different sectors across the continent, whether it’s in agriculture, health or education, and really trying to see how to appropriately position ICTs and digitalization at the center of Africa’s economic transformation. I think attendant with that, of course, will always be the discussions around gender inclusiveness and how we really ensure that all these different framework strategies adequately take cognizance of the important aspect of gender, and particularly the issues around inclusiveness when it comes to making sure that these policies and frameworks respond to the needs of women, that they actually are inclusive in terms of adequately positioning women, not only in the definition of the strategies, but also in their implementation and in the benefits thereof. So this discussion really is meant to give us an opportunity to delve into some of those issues. I’ve got a very stellar panel in front of me that will be really looking at this issue and trying to unpack for us from their experiences, what have they experienced in terms of gender inclusiveness, what have they done in terms of the work that they do in terms of promoting gender inclusiveness, but also the challenges that they have faced. We’ll look at some of the barriers that perhaps we need to address as we look at the gender transformative nature of digitalization, and then we will also look at some of the opportunities. Ultimately, at the end of the day, we want to be able to have recommendations for ourselves as women, recommendations for our policymakers, recommendations for our partners, and really recommendations that will ensure that for African women, indeed, the future is digital and it’s the digital future that takes cognizance of their role, both on the supply side and on the demand side, and in terms of also on the benefits as well. So maybe just to introduce my panel very briefly, and I’m sure as they also make their interventions, they will also perhaps supplement my very brief introduction with some additional information about the work that they have done. So in no particular order, we have Alice Munoz, who is the Senior Director for Africa working on a project called MRADI at Mozilla, and she has decades of experience working with multiple stakeholders on the continent on different issues, including being the founder and convener of Kittenet, and I’m sure she will tell us a little bit more about that in terms of her experiences with establishing that particular organization. We have Bonita Nyamire, who is joining us online, Co-Director for Research at Policy Uganda, which is a think tank that works at the intersection of data, technology and design to improve government service delivery. We have Dr. Nnenna Enyi-Adjufo, board member of the Network of African Women in Cybersecurity and a professor of technology law. We have Ghana Ayman, a Pan-African Youth Ambassador for the Internet Governance Forum, and the students studying at Cairo University. We have Liz Orembo, who is a Research Fellow at Research ICT Africa based in Kenya, and she basically has worked also in other capacities carrying out national cybersecurity assessments. Last but not least, we are joined by the only male on the panel, so he will give us the male perspective, but also perhaps the partner perspective on this. Tobias Thiel is the Director of the GIZAU office in Addis Ababa, and we are really pleased that he is able to join us for this session. So with that, let’s get into it. We will, of course, have a few rounds of questions and specifically to the different partners, to the different panelists. But we’re also very much welcoming our online participants to also, I think, make use of the chat functions in terms of your Q&As and then also in terms of the people that are in the room. Also, please hold your questions so that we can take them when we do the Q&A session. Just to also acknowledge the fact that Alice has generously agreed to support and co-moderate this session with me, and she will be helping us with the Q&A part of the session. So Alice, I’m going to start with you and really just looking at the different experiences that are in the room and among the panelists and how we have all traversed this digital journey. I think you’ve been working in digital policymaking for a long time. You helped establish the Kenya ICT Action Network, KICTANet. You have done a lot of consulting, including for the African Union, and you are now working for Mozilla as a director. So maybe just share with us what has been your experience in terms of paving the way, I think, for so many young African women who are on this journey and hoping to follow in your footsteps.

Alice Munyua:
Thank you very much, Toela, and thank you very much, GIZ, for inviting me to be on this panel and to co-moderate with you, Toela. I’ve known Toela for very many years, and you’ve really made me – you’ve aged me. You’ve really made me – yes, yes. I’m actually quite old in this space, having started when we used to call this communication for development, or even before communication for development, we used to call it social communications. So, yes, you know, and yes, my first job was actually beginning to look at what the internet, the impact that the new so-called internet was having on society when I was then working for the Vatican, the Vatican Radio, and we were creating the Vatican II Council. Okay, God, yes, I’m old. And we were the first ones to actually begin to interrogate what this so-called new technology was about and what impact it would have in society generally. So – and yes, I was actually the second or third cohort of women to be allowed to attend the prestigious Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana at the Vatican, and also as a program assistant for the African service of the Vatican Radio. So my background in communication is quite, you know, very fast, and my fast laptop was actually those huge things that needed a whole wheelbarrow to carry when I lived in Rome, so it’s quite a long journey. And by then, then, you know, we were looking at radio, and then from then the internet, and then I was involved with the World Summit on the Information Society, and there really acknowledging that there was a huge gender gap in that women were not involved in the discussions, the discourse, and even the building of this new technology, the internet. So that’s how far I come, and I would find myself in these spaces as the only woman, and for those who know how that can be – I don’t want to – I mean, I think I am going to use the word violent. It can be really a violent space to be the only woman and the only black woman in these spaces, but then we did it, and also then coming home to Kenya where the Kenyan government had declared the internet illegal and having to fight that, that whole process. Our government actually did not want the internet introduced in our country because there was this perception that it was taken away from the Kenyan posts and telecommunication, what you used to call telecom Kenya. Lonely journey in that we didn’t – nobody understood this technology. The government policymakers did not understand this technology, did not understand how it could contribute or what value it was bringing to its own national development framework or the way they thought about the development framework. So it’s through that and through joining together with – I actually started working – my first job was with the Association for Progressive Communications with UNREIT here running as their program officer for communications, running a huge project called Catalyzing Access to ICTs in Africa that was funded by the UK government, the DFID. And it’s from there that I then created the Kenya ICT Action Network simply because the reason why I created the Kenya ICT Action Network was because a lot of people – on one end you had government that did not understand the internet. Then you have the private sector that understood the potential of the internet, and there was the civil society that also understood the potential for the internet in democratizing communication. And we were all fighting each other, you know, pulling each other. And so I took on the responsibility to try and bring us together. And those who are Kenyans know that around this period until today – and it’s not just Kenya, actually, it’s globally – when you’re fighting for any right, it’s very easy to be branded, you know, terrible names. There’s an African saying that when a hyena wants to eat its cubs, it first accuses them of smelling of goats. And so we were accused of being activists. And because once you’re called an activist in Kenya – I don’t know about other countries – it means that policymakers are not going to listen to you. Neither is the private sector. Actually, neither is the media, unless they’re really courageous to put down and to expose what we are trying to advocate for. So luckily for us, there was a huge policy window. A new government came in, the Kibaki government in 2000, and there was a policy window. And at that point, the Ministry of Information and Communication was created. And two of my really good friends, Honorable Tuju and Honorable Regé, were then appointed Tuju as the minister and Honorable Regé as the permanent secretary. But then they made the mistake of disbanding the communications commission, the regulatory body, the board, and by then had left the APC and was fully committed to just convening and ensuring that Kiktonet was running and fighting to have an ICT policy framework that would allow especially the private sector and civil society to then do work in the country. And guess what? Kibaki then appointed me to be a commissioner on the regulatory authority, and I served for six years there. And serving with the various ministers, it was fast. The first was second and third. We managed to bring in the fiber optic cable, managed to create competition, signed. I’m the one who was the chair of the technical committee of the communications commission of Kenya then. It used to be called the CCK. Now it’s called the Communication Authority. Including signing the papers for what the famous mobile money, M-Pesa. Mobile money is the most famous mobile payment platform actually in the world. And even Kiktonet is actually the only network of that nature. Although currently it’s completely different. Government no longer actively contributes. It’s become a think tank, which is brilliant because we had not anticipated, and Riet will actually affirm to this, we continue to do a lot of monitoring and evaluation. And we’re very clear that we didn’t expect Kiktonet to survive beyond the creation of the ICT policy, that it has survived beyond that. It’s a huge legacy, and I’m very, very proud of what it is. But it was actually quite difficult doing that as a woman. It was lonely. I was the only woman, but I was very, very fortunate to be supported by a very strong team of men and allies. So the former minister of information communication, the immediate former minister, Joseph Moshero, created the network with me. And it is what it is now. And as a woman, and I knew how difficult it is, especially for young women to get into this kind of leadership position, so I only stayed long enough to be able to pave the way and hand it over to the current convener, Grace Githaiga. And I remember making her promise me that she will not continue becoming a convener for more than five years so she can hand over to the next women, so we can have even more women in this space. So I moved from there and worked with the African Union for about three years. That was, I think, the most difficult period of my life because I became the punching bag. I was an easy target. I became the punching bag for our top-level domain, .Africa. We were fighting for our top-level domain, .Africa, from an American that wanted it. So an American wanting a domain name that belongs to an entire continent. How I became a punching bag was because I was the only woman among a team of men that was fighting for that. We eventually had the domain name delegated to the African Union and with the back-end manager, the ZACR, and I’m really proud of that. I moved from then and I am now leading and worked for Mozilla for about two years as the policy lead for Africa, and I’m now leading a program that’s looking at having Mozilla’s presence in the global majority. So in Africa, South America, and Asia. Because Mozilla is an American company that hasn’t actually made such a huge effort to be global. So my role is actually to create a blueprint for Mozilla to show up globally and to show up globally differently because Mozilla is not big tech. Mozilla is a mission-based company, although I work for the corporation, not for the foundation. But we are a very different kind of corporation. We believe in an internet that is truly healthy, joyful, and puts people, especially women, back in control of their online lives. I’ll leave it at that for any questions. Back to you, Toela. Thank you.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
Thank you very much, Alice. And I think maybe the themes of persistence, resilience, and also being able to pave the way and hand over and pass the baton to other women, I think, are coming through in terms of your story. So I’m going to turn to you, Bonita. And I know that you do quite a lot of research in terms of looking at issues around women’s participation in the internet. You have co-authored a very interesting report about alternate realities and alternate internets and how African feminist research can actually guide a feminist internet. And I’m curious to know a little bit more about this research and really what were the most interesting insights that you were able to uncover, Bonita.

Sonya Annasha Bonita:
You can see me and hear me. Please let me know. Thank you. My name is Bonita. As already introduced, I work for Policy as a co-director in research. And the research that Toela is talking about, we conducted as Policy in 2019-2020. That was in five African countries, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, and Ethiopia. And in this research, we looked at experiences of women who use the internet. So general women who use the internet and wanted to understand their experiences, gain an insight into their experiences while using online spaces, while using the internet. And we got very interesting, what we can say interesting findings, but also very sad findings on the side of women. And some of the key findings that we got were that that all women are generally affected by online harassment, you know, in online spaces, on different platforms. And it is not that only women are affected, even men are also affected by online harassment or online gender-based violence, but women are significantly affected. They are more affected compared to men. And we also discovered that it was different categories of women that affected by this online harassment in these digital spaces. There were categories that was more affected than the others. And we looked at, we saw women who are in positions of leadership. Like Alice was saying, she was, you know, a punching bag, very, very true. I relate with her experience physically, but also online when it comes to women who are in leadership positions, both political leadership and other leadership positions. They are very, very significantly affected by online harassment. Then women human rights defenders, again, goes back to Alice’s job at one point as a woman human rights defender. They are also significantly affected by online harassment because of the work they do. You know, they are trying to, you know, to create safer spaces for other women and girls. So they really become punching bags in online spaces, but also in offline spaces, like Alice really said. Then women in the media, women journalists, bloggers, influencers, you know, because of the work they do. You know, they are in the face, you know, of the TV, of online platforms every time, sharing news, raising awareness on different issues. So they also significantly face or experience online harassment. So those were the key categories of women that we found that are significantly affected by online harassment. Then the other key finding from our research was that issues of online presence for African women are not as well attended to if you compare to other forms of violence. And this is about online gender-based violence. So we found that other forms of harassment or violence or gender-based violence, they are well attended to, they are articulated, they are policies which are very straightforward. But if you look at online harassment, online gender-based violence, it is not as well as explored if you compare with, for instance, domestic violence, with intimate partner violence, with female genital mutilation. I’ll give an example, for instance, if you come to Uganda to any police station looking for registered or recorded cases of online gender-based violence, you will hardly find any. But you’ll find cases of domestic violence have been recorded, cases of intimate partner violence have been recorded. FGM is very recorded in areas where it was in Uganda or is still even up to today. So you find that these issues of online gender-based violence among women, they are not as recorded as if you compare with other cases of forms of violence against women. So which is a very, very big gap. They actually tend to be pushed away and they are told that, oh, this is a small thing that you can deal with. You can handle that. It’s very simple. Or you actually, you are the one who caused it, go and handle it. And it is because of the work they do. It is because of their presence on online spaces, in digital spaces that they encountered these experiences. So that was the other key issue that we found out. Then the other one was that what we see offline actually is reproduced online. The discriminatory agenda practices shaped by social, economic, cultural and political structures that we see offline, they are really now reproduced online. Whatever women are encountering in offline spaces, they are now seeing the same thing happening to them in online spaces, on social media platforms and so on and so forth. The other key finding was that the policies that exist for countering online gender-based violence among women, they are not very explicit about this kind of violence. They are very silent. They talk about cyber security. They talk about discrimination in online spaces. There shouldn’t be discrimination. There should be equality online. The internet is a human right, even for women, but they are not very explicit. They don’t really come out to say online harassment. They don’t really end against women, because we have other policies, more like domestic violence, intimate partner violence, saying all A, B, C, D, X, Y, Z about women, about girls, about children. So that is not yet happening in the context of online gender-based violence. So most of the policies, even the normative frameworks, they talk about gender equality, but they do not really come out about this form of violence. So those are some of the key findings that we established from our research, and I will leave it at that. Thank you very much.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
Thank you, Bonita, and really thank you, I think, for highlighting, I think, the fact that perhaps there’s a lot of asymmetry in terms of the information that is being captured about women’s experiences online, especially when it pertains to the harm that is caused by online spaces, and how that perhaps can then impact on the women’s ability to engage effectively with online spaces. I think it’s also important, maybe as we continue having this discussion, to always be mindful that in our context, I think women span a very broad socioeconomic base. So you have women in the rural areas, you have women in the urban, very urban, and all of these women are having different experiences of the same issues, and the question is, how does one then also begin to address that as well? I’m going to turn to you now, Nnena, and I know that you are a prolific academic and researcher, you teach on law and technology in the UK, but you’re also very connected to the policy spaces, not only globally, but on the continent as well, and you have a leading role in the AU Cyber Security Experts Group. So I’m curious to hear from you, what have your experiences been as a woman working in this field, but working, I think, in two different contexts, one in the UK, one here on the continent, and really trying to navigate that space in terms of the intersection of law and technology, but also your journey as a woman in that space, Nnena.

Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo:
Thank you so much, Toela. Namaste, thank you to our Danepad for this very important conversation, this panel, and of course to GIZ as well. In terms of personal experience, I would say that a huge motivation for me has been women’s rights. 17, 18 years ago, which is also interesting to see the dimensions, the differing dimensions of our conversation in terms of women and the discussion. I was researching into criminal human rights abuses, international criminal crimes in Anglophone Africa then about 18 years ago, and it struck me one day how women’s voices could be amplified in terms of being witnesses or being victims. And interestingly, years later, the International Criminal Court is now accepting digital evidence. And for me at that time, it was how do I work in an area where digital evidence, human rights, cyber rights would be relevant. And I think as we have these conversations, there are three key issues that needs to be underscored. The first one is human rights and technology for women, which Bonita has talked a lot about, digital rights. There are also questions of cybersecurity and women, which Bonita has also highlighted. And also bridging the digital divide is key in Africa because sometimes when I think about bridging the digital divide in Africa, there are still levels to it. Africa remains the least digitalized region in the world, but not just bridging the gender digital divide as we talk about, but also enhancing inclusion and ownership in the digital space for women. These conversations need to be had in this sort of, when we promote these discussions. Now, in terms of my experience and aligning to promoting women and enhancing women participation and rights for women, I will first of all start by saying that in the policy space, I’ll come to the research and academic perspective. In the policy space, there is very little focused and targeted policy implementation and even policy development for women in Africa. What we have seen is sort of a charity approach to these conversations. Sometimes I usually say it’s easy to come for election campaigns and hear men talk about what they would do for women. And of course that is also reflected in the digital space. So it’s easy for new policy makers to talk about what they want to do for women. But in reality, these policies are not clearly conceptually clear and they are not even, there is no plan to implement these policies. The other issue is a lack of a harmonized approach to these issues. Now, one of the things you pointed out is being in the UK, you would see a more harmonized approach to these issues. It is clear that this is what the policy is all about. This is what the target, this is what the outcome, this is what the goal is. In Africa, there is no harmonized approach, whether from the African Union regional level, the sub-regional level, and even at the national level. So even at the national level, you have this sort of fragmented approach to the issues of women in the digital space, whether it’s for inclusion, whether it’s for participation, digital empowerment, cybersecurity issues, or questions of digital rights. What you then have is a more individualistic approach in terms of capacity building, in terms of access. You have individuals who want to help, you have civil society organization, like Bonita’s organizations. But then when you then talk of having it harmonized and measuring the implementation is usually a challenge. The other issue for me is Africa’s digital transformation strategy. I mean, we’ve done well by pushing out a digital transformation strategy for the next 10 years, but I usually ask, where is the accountability in terms of the digital transformation strategy? Are we clear on what we want to achieve with the digital transformation strategy? What is the short-term implementation? What is the long-term implementation? It has been there for three to four years now. Where are the gains? We don’t see any document anywhere telling us this is what has been achieved, who has achieved what, and where we are going with the strategy. And I think we have to be practical with these conversations. It is very silent when you talk of women. And so there is even a lack of prioritization of these issues. And I think that is where we also need to start having the conversation. Are we prioritizing issues of gender? And when we talk of gender in Africa, we usually think, oh, it’s all about empowering women. It’s just about women, but it’s a whole triangle of even empowering children, girls, the girl child, children, and even the family as a whole. And if you look at Africa’s charter on human rights, Africa is one continent that actually stipulates culture and family as a key issue. And I think it’s something that should be reflected in other aspects. Now, I also want to talk about research. I think in 2017, I was privileged to do a human rights publication on human rights and technology for African women. And sometimes I go back to look for research in relation to women in Africa. There is none. Interestingly, I’m working with Bonita on an edited project on cyber rights. And it’s been a struggle getting that book published. She knows about this. And it just gets me to reflect on the challenges you have with research. First of all, the challenge of having African researchers in the field. We can’t do anything without data. We can’t do anything without research. And I think it’s one thing I’ve noticed in terms of my experience is a huge challenge in that aspect. We can’t have these conversations if we’ve not mapped the realities. And I know ICT Africa, Lizzie is here. They’ve been trying to do so much work as well. So we can’t have these conversations if we’ve not mapped the reality. It becomes more hypothetical than it is real saying, oh, Africa in terms of culture, gender issues. But then in reality, if we can’t map the reality, then we can’t actually answer or have a valid conversation about these issues. And as we go on, I can talk more about other experiences. Thank you.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
Thank you very much, Nnenna. As I will not attempt to summarize all of that, but I will say that what has stood out for me is the fact that number one, we don’t want charity. We don’t want tokenism. I think women want to be adequately included in all aspects of whether it’s policymaking, policy implementation, research, and just making sure that our voices are heard. And I think that to the point around really the research and the data and the evidence, I think there is also, I think, a space perhaps for having a conversation about how as women we’re going to show up in terms of leading and driving some of these processes, including holding our institutions to account when they develop strategies and when these strategies now need to be implemented. So, Tobias, I’m going to now turn to you. You have heard from three very powerful women. One more is still to come, but I’m curious to know from you now in the role that you have working at GIZ, working with the African Union and really managing that cooperation between the GIZ on behalf of the German government and the African Union. Based on your experience, how do you see Germany’s development cooperation adequately supporting Africa’s digital transformation? And what role do you see gender inclusiveness playing in the digital sector, Tobias?

Tobias Thiel:
Okay, I’ll try this one, yeah. Thank you so much, Tovela, and good afternoon to everyone and good morning to those who are joining us online from the African continent. It’s a real pleasure to be here at the IGF and I would just like to use the opportunity to thank our hosts, the GIZ, and the African Union for their support. I used to seize the opportunity to thank our hosts, the government and people of Japan for doing an absolutely wonderful job at the hospitality here in Kyoto. Since I identify as a feminist and an ally in the cause of women’s empowerment, it’s of course a particular honor to be on a panel that is basically, except for myself, only staffed with powerful and inspiring women and I believe that this actually sends also an important signal because I think we all know that there is a tendency in international conferences for panels to be rather male-dominated. The theme of this session is actually a very important one for the German Development Corporation. I mean, a feminist approach to Africa’s digital transformation. It both resonates with the German Development Corporation as a whole in terms of general policy but also especially with the work that my colleagues and I are doing in the context of our work with the African Union. So as you might know, the German government has made gender equality a key priority and that includes also having a foreign and development policy that takes gender equality as a particular priority. So the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the BMZ, recently introduced a new strategic approach which it calls the feminist development policy and at the core of that policy or strategy lie the three R’s. There’s a focus on rights, resources, and representation as sort of three important dimensions that we need to consider when promoting the cause of women’s empowerment. So in that spirit, Germany has set itself the goal of dedicating directly 90% of the resources of the German Development Corporation portfolio globally to contribute to gender equality by 2025. And this feminist agenda is, of course, also a close guiding principle for our cooperation with the African Union, including AUDANIPAT, where Tovela works. And together in that context, we aim to eliminate discriminatory structures for women and girls and other marginalized groups in the field of digitalization and data governance. And in this context, we try to ensure particularly that female voices are systematically considered in all of the activities of the German Development Corporation portfolio and not only that these voices are included, but also that they actually heard and find the right resonance. And the reason why we do this is out of the conviction, the fundamental conviction that sustainable development cannot be achieved if we don’t address the fundamental flaws and inequalities in power structures. And this includes women particularly, who constitute 50% of the population of this planet, but it, of course, also includes any other group that experiences any form of discrimination based on any of the criteria or characteristics. So, and in that sense, it’s particularly important that gender equality and inclusion become a reality for all. Thank you.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
Thank you very much, Tobias. Thank you really for highlighting those three R’s, the rights, the resources, the representation. I don’t know about everybody else, but I definitely have latched onto that 90%. So we will see how we also make sure that we are able to direct resources adequately towards the participation of women. But I think it’s also perhaps a challenge to the continent as well, in terms of being able to also direct more resources to amplify the voices of women. My last panelist, I believe Liz is now in the room. Before we go to taking some Q&A and comments from the room and from those online, Liz, I’m just going to invite you to really share with us your experience in terms of the work that you’ve been doing in intergovernance, in multi-stakeholder engagement in Africa, and really perhaps just getting to hear from you, your experience of the gaps in terms of where the women’s engagement in digital processes is evident. And then also what else you have found in terms of your work, both at RIA, as well as at Kiktonet. Liz.

Liz:
Thank you, GIZ, for inviting me to this session, which I’m so passionate about. And I’d like to start off by saying my story is not a movie like Alice Muñoz and the rest because she actually opened up ways for us, other women who are coming after her. And actually my story started out from the global internet governance that she organized in Kenya in 20, was it 2012, 2011. Then I was a student and I was struggling to find out where I would fit into the society as a second year student taking communications, bachelor education communications. At that time I was struggling to see whether I would like to be a poet, I would like to be a singer, I would like to be all those things. But then I stumbled upon, I noticed that said something like, do you want to know how the internet works? And I started volunteering for that organization. But what I didn’t know is that I was working on the wrong side of the history. So when Alice says that she was being bullied, I was on the team that was bullying her. I wasn’t bullying her, but I was on that side until I was invited to the global IGF to market the other side of dot Africa. And then I got the story and I was invited to intern at Kenic where she was a board member. So it was a very good experience from that leadership and from there I got to have a chance to be in the team that actually formed Internet Society Kenya Chapter, which was a struggle to form because of many, a lot of political issues through the 10 years, but it was a success. I’d like to say that during that year, tech was really developing in Kenya, but it was so much of an elitist thing and a men’s thing. So being in that field as a woman, it was intimidating and I would agree it’s also violent because you raise your hand, no one is interested to get what you’re saying. And even when you manage to say something, no one acknowledges it. And it’s those tiny things that actually discourage you from continuing being in the space. At that time, as a woman and as a youth, the spaces to participate in Internet governance was very, very little and it was a struggle to stay in the space. Because one, you need to sustain yourself in the space, you need to travel, you need to contribute as a volunteer. It’s meant that at that time you’re struggling between finding a job that actually pays you and actually doing some of these passionate things. And also, when you’re attending meetings, as a young woman, you’re assigned the role of a note taker and you don’t get to contribute to those meetings. So for a very long time, I was a note taker, but it wasn’t a disadvantage. It was a disadvantage in the end because you get to understand, because the field is so dynamic, it meant that you get to understand what people are saying. You have to put it down in a way that other people also understand what is communicated in those meetings. And that really helped grow my career. So from there, when Gigi was taking over Kickternet, she invited me to be part of the board members of Kickternet. And I would say the experience there was exciting and challenging at the same time because that was when internet governance and the usage of internet was really opening up in Kenya. And we had to start demystifying concepts of net neutrality, privacy, in a way that policymakers actually understand. And I think that was the most exciting thing for me during that time. And I remember now moving it forward to now when we are trying to tell people about the concepts of privacy and the data protection, now it’s very, very easy. I remember the first times when we were advocating for the same and trying to get parliament to put in a data protection policy, parliamentarians would ask, if you’re a good citizen, what do you want to hide? And what would citizens want to hide? And those were very difficult questions also to answer from our end. And so conceptualizing those concepts in a way that policymakers and even people on the ground got to understand and even start working on those policies was a challenging thing, but it was also exciting at the same time. So I continued working with Kickternet. And I think, as Alice mentions, that we moved from that space of engagement. It’s still an engagement space, but you also realize that much of the things were being said on the list, but not being carried out or even being followed up. So when government made a commitment to say that they want to follow up with data protection frameworks, then they would need someone to help them, the civil society to help them. And Kickternet became that civil society that actually helped them through policy implementation. That meant that we had to be registered. That meant that we had to start designing the organization from just where people just engaged, but also people collaborated at the back end. So after Kickternet, I moved to Global Cybersecurity Capacity Center, which was another exciting venture for me. I felt like I had done enough at the national level, and we had opened up spaces for participation through the Kenya School of Internet Governance that brought in very many experts from different fields to start working on internet governance issues, which Kickternet by itself could not have done that because it was so overwhelming even for the organization. For the GCSEC, another exciting work, like I’ve said, and I’ve worked with Toela. At that time, I started working with RIA because they were very big partners with the GCSEC, forming the Global Cybersecurity Capacity Center for South Africa, C3SA. And that’s where we worked with governments to actually build capacity, national capacity on cybersecurity. There, again, it was another space where women were not actively participating, and especially African women. And we started driving the concept of cybersecurity not just being a technical thing, but it also has a people process, and women were so instrumental in participating in cybersecurity policies. And also because they are also most vulnerable because digital literacy, they’re on the other side of the disparity on digital literacy, access use. The domestic nature of African homes is that women manage the small bills in homes, and they’re the ones who use the mobile money, they’re the ones who manage the homes. So even being targeted by cyber, what do we call them, the social engineering tactics was very easy, like someone being told that your child is sick, please send this kind of money or they’re in danger, and they would be vulnerable from that point. So with those projects, we started seeing the need of getting more women into the space of cybersecurity capacity. We started, we partnered with ITU, we partnered with some of the universities that we were working on, universities in Cape Town, universities in Tanzania, on global cybersecurity, on capacity building CCB for women. And from there, I see more women participating, the alumni in those programs participating actually. So I worked at the GCSEC for like one or two years, one and a half to two years, and then I felt like I wanted to develop my research capacity, and I moved to RIA. And the first project with RIA was conceptualizing the feminist principles that would go into the GDC, was the new deal that we want. And that resonated so much with me because through my work, I’ve been seeing how women have been affected disproportionately by ICT. They lack access, lack of representation with the new technologies. They become even more marginalized because they’re not seen in the new technologies like AI, which also automatically makes decisions for them. So these decisions are biased, even in the first place. And from there, we started developing not just feminist principles, but African perspectives to it into these global processes that are actually starting, and we are continuing to make submissions to engage with the technical envoy and with other partners on these feminist principles of them. And in every submissions that we also make, we also try to see the gender perspective of it. And from the access research, I think this is something that we’ve been seeing through the IGF, that the inequalities that are actually reflected from the after-access surveys, that women are so much disproportionately affected in such a way that there’s so much economic injustice for them to participate economically, politically, and even socially. And what the after-access survey does is to provide this disaggregated data so that you can see the realities of access and how they’re affected even beyond. I’m going to stop here, and then I’ll welcome any questions if you have.

Moderator – Towela Jere:
Thank you very much, Liz. And I must commend my panel, because I think you have made our work a little bit easier, because you have managed to touch on a number of things in your intervention. So looking at your experiences, some of the barriers, and maybe even some of the opportunities. So what I would like to do now, because I am mindful of time, and I also would like to give space for discussion and dialogue and Q&A. So I’m going to open the floor now for questions, comments, inputs, both from the online and those that are physically in the room. And for this, I am going to hand over to you, Alice, to manage for us this process. And Fabiola, I think, will support you in terms of the online interventions. Over to you, Alice.

Alice Munyua:
Okay. Thank you. Thank you to all. And thank you to all the other panelists. So I’d like to open it up to any questions from the room. Microphones, one there, one there. And there’s also roaming microphones here.

Anna Margaretha (anriette) Esterhuysen:
I want Andri to say what I told her many years ago. She looked at me in one of these meetings and said to me, because I offered, put up my hand to take notes. And she said, you never do that. But actually, as someone said, I don’t know, who was it? Was it you, Liz? Well, someone said that if you take notes, it does give you a certain kind of power as well. Yes, it does. No, I just wanted to say that I think, I mean, it’s really amazing to listen to the stories. And Alice, a movie is a good idea, I think. Liz is right there. My name is Anriet Esterhuisen. And I, together with Alison and the African Union, organize the African School on Internet Governance every year. And I think the one thing that I can say for that is that we’ve made huge progress. We never struggle to get good women who are experts. Tawela is one of the founders of the school. So having Tawela there as well, it’s just very difficult to get hold of her. She’s so busy. But there are women in the field. We have them on this panel here. And there are others. So the expertise is there. We always have at least half the participants also women. But there are still, there’s still resistance. I think there’s still particular, there’s still assumptions. There’s assumptions that women experts have to deal with women’s issues. And that if women or gender issues are on the agenda, it has to be women that put them on the agenda. And then I think at the level of cultural norms of expectations of how women behave, there are still huge barriers. You know, I think several of you mentioned the bullying, the expectation of how to behave as a woman in this space. You’re not supposed to be controversial. You’re not supposed to really be challenging, particularly not challenging people in authority. I think in Africa, there is respect as a very much part of the culture of how we work. And I think it can sometimes be a little bit of a barrier. But I think, I mean, what we try to do at the African School is at least create a space where there is, where gender is recognized, even if that’s not the focus. And where participants are made conscious of the need to be respectful and to listen to one another. So, I think as one of our members of parliament who participated in this year’s school, when they wanted one of the women staff members to type their notes, she said no. And in a way, that’s how we are trying to contribute to establish more sensitivity to that. But I just want to commend you, really. I mean, Alice, listening to you and talk of those early years with Minister Tuju, how hopeful we were, and then how many challenges there were. I really think there has been a substantial change. There’s still lots of challenges. But compared to the early 2000s, I think there’s just, there is more recognition, there is more space for women to be in this space. And I think it’s done by people like yourselves. And Alison over there as well, who never stops annoying government officials and policy makers with all her very disturbing statistics.

Alice Munyua:
Thank you, Andrea. Yes, please.

Audience:
Is it working? Okay. Thank you, Alice, for moderating this. And thank you for weathering everything that you went through. And it is absolutely wonderful. I am a woman. You’ll be surprised, because on my right side is a woman, and on my left side is a man. So together, if you take the word woman, you put a bracket at the man. So you find the set is a woman, and a man in a subset. So I am a subset of a woman. My mother didn’t go to school. And it is because of a man. His brother, when she passed to go to the grade four, she was told that you cannot go to school because you are supposed to be working, doing the fields, and taking care of the cows. So when my mother told me that story, I made up my mind then when I was in primary school that when I grow up, you know, if I have a boy and a girl, they will grow on equal footing. So thank you for everything. So my thing really is to say that we really need to make sure that we continue to support girls and boys to grow up together, to work together, to support each other, so that as they grow up to become full women and men, they defend each other in terms of supporting each other. That is all I wanted to say. Thank you. Thank you for being an ally. There’s a lady there. Hi. Hello. Sorry. I had my hands up. I’m behind you. Hello. Hi. I’m sorry. It’s okay. Can I ask? Yes, please. Thank you. Sorry. So my name is Tagus. My name is Tagus. I am from APC. So now everyone is looking at me, so I’m just scared. I’ve been following the conversation actually online because I was supporting a friend who was in need of some consulting. But thank you, Farben, for sending me the link. So I have listened to most of the conversation, and it has been very engaging. And it’s so inspiring to hear feminist researchers having a conversation in a room because I think we’re stuck with gender as part of analysis but not feminism being welcome in spaces. So it’s a good and refreshing thing to hear. I have a couple of questions maybe if the panelists can respond to. The first one is, I mean, in this IGF, one of the things that we have realized is thanks to organizations like APC, after decades of struggle, that we now get to see online gender-based violence with its new terminology, technology-faceted gender-based violence being part of the agenda. You hear it everywhere. Everyone is picking it up, which is awesome, which means that part of the struggle has been won. So that’s a good thing. So for me, my question is, it seems like in terms of—this comes from a research perspective—it seems that we are much more inclined into talking about online harassment, which are very valid conversations to be having, and dog-seeing and other—they are very predictable thematic areas that we keep on picking up on. And I feel like there has to be a way in which feminists have to start thinking about expanding the idea of violence, specifically online, from a multiple perspective. And I think I kind of came to that realization after we have experienced it—I’m also from Ethiopia—a war in different regions, and the online space being a propaganda space for justification of rape against women, and that being seen not only from a government perspective, but also even from international media, who have been reciting around that. And I think that kind of reciting—that kind of work needs to resurface in this space, so that the urgency of the matter can be much more pertinent. So, that’s my invitation, and also I would like to ask for people to start thinking about expanding the idea of online gender-based violence from multiple spaces. The other one is, how feminists is our work? I’m asking that because we tend to write feminism, but we end up doing a gender analysis. For me, they are two different things, because feminism has its own values in terms of really prioritizing women in gender-diverse communities. And in that sense, how do you reflect about the sector that we are working on, and then how are you dealing with trying to bring in feminist issues in that space, by dealing with those who are— are only interested in the analysis of it. The last question I have is, and also, how do you deal with, this is also, again, from a research perspective. One of my critics that I have is, in this kind of online gender-based violence, we tend to categorize women in the LGBTQ community together. And then the analysis, even the conversation, end up being about women. And so how do feminists start making sure that the LGBTQ community are not just there as a list, but also as an active allies, and active contributors of knowledge? And so, yeah, I’m asking that question. Thank you.

Alice Munyua:
Thank you for those questions. Would any of the panelists, because these are research questions. Can I hand that to Nnenna and to Liz? Liz, do you want to start to respond? Nnenna, please? Yeah, Nnenna can start. Is Nnenna still online?

Nnenna Ifeanyi-Ajufo:
Yes, I’m here. Thank you very much. And I think it’s also a very important question for Bonita. She has also been engaged in research. Just to say that Tigi’s points, they’re very, very valid. One of the things, the project I talked about, the edited project that we’re struggling to work on, I think chapter two of that book is entirely on the topic I’ve termed Afro-cyberfeminism. And interestingly, you’re talking about these points. I agree with you. Sometimes it seems like the conversation is all about just cyber harassment. But I also want to point out that there are also other aspects of the core. It’s a broad discourse more than. In fact, when Toela was talking, I was like, apart from rural women, there are also questions of refugees, women who are refugees in Africa. Nobody’s really talking about this group. And in terms of access, in terms of rights, there are absolutely so many discussions that needs to be had. But I just want to say that, except we work together, I’ve been very careful not to talk about personal experience because if I do, people in the room or people online would actually pinpoint at maybe who I’m referring to in terms of some of the conversations and the challenges that we tend to have. And one of the things Lizzie also pointed out too is we’ve moved from this space of technical expertise to broader aspects, policy and all of that. And I’m excited to see that and read, Alison is in the room. I think we need to work more together and bring together the stories. The stories I’ve had today gives a reflection of the research perspectives we need to put out there. But what challenge you tend to have, like I said earlier, is lack of researchers that are homegrown. Again, I had the cyber crime working group of the GFCE. There is also the challenge of the Global North and the Global South dichotomy, which you find reflected in issues of research. For example, talking of LGBTQ, we have to look at the African realities and acceptance of these issues and then advocacy and campaigning to push these conversations. The fact that there are people in those groups who would want to also tell their stories, but because of the African reality to these perspectives, they also can’t come out to speak about their realities. So there is that Global South, Global North dichotomy. We can also move from just having an African conversation to more of a Global South, where we can look at challenges and look at commonalities in both regions. I think it would help if you look at, for example, Latin America and this sort of Afro cyber feminism conversations, and even from the LGBTQ perspective, there is a lot to share. So finally, just because of time, there are bodies, for example, like the UNECA. I know they are happy to work with organizations like the UNICEF, the UNICEF, the UNICEF, I know Research ICT is doing a lot. I think that there should be more platforms for research. People want to write. I know more and more academics in Africa, they want to write, but you also have this sort of Westernized approach to writing. Most people who are writing about Africa are actually not in Africa. And that’s a huge challenge. People tell you that publishers don’t actually want to work with them because they can’t validate the authenticity of their work in Africa. And I find that very off-putting. It’s triggering for me, but then you find that people want to tell your stories more than you can actually tell your story. And I think UNREC is here, the Internet Governance School. It’s a great agenda, and I think it will be an opportunity to highlight more of these issues, as well as give opportunities for more platforms for women to talk about this from the points you’ve raised. Thank you.

Alice Munyua:
Yeah, thank you, Nnenna, for that. And actually, thank you so much for bringing up the issue of the global North and global majority dichotomy, because even more nuanced than that, there’s the whole difference. When you look at feminism, there’s the way black women look at feminism and the way other non-black women look at feminism. There’s also that dichotomy that I think we should not shy away from talking about it. It should not, you know, it’s a controversial issue and we should not lose. And then, there’s a lady. Yes. Oh, here, I can give you this one. Okay. I can take it out. Okay. Oh, it’s to Liz. Liz. Yeah, yeah. Okay, let’s, yeah, thank you. Okay, let’s, yeah, take this one. Oh, is this one working? Thank you.

Liz:
Yeah, so I get it that what was asked was the terminologies of feminism as it’s in different regions, which you’ve actually started talking about. And this is something that we’ve realized, not just in my work with Ria, also with Kiktonite, because some of these concepts come from the global North because the funding is also coming from the global North. It comes with the conceptualization of how the global North faces it. And when you come to the ground, you realize that there’s a disconnect, that people don’t really, either don’t understand what you’re saying or they just listen to you, but there’s no impact that is actually going to happen. The other kinds of differences in these terminologies is how also different regions in Africa also conceptualizes the term, because it’s different from Francophone region, West African region, East African region, South African region. And also what you’re trying to do at Research ICT Africa is to also enact some of these conceptualizations so that when you are talking to policymakers, what are we equipping them with? Are we equipping them with evidence from what you get from the ground? And also with our consultation, we also try to reach as wide as we can so that we also get the contributions especially from Francophone, which is not really covered in the work that we do. So yeah, the other one was on cyber harassment and rights, which is also kind of the same. Most of the work that organizations in Africa and women do first go to cyber harassment, digital rights, women accessing opportunities. And which is rightly so, because we look at these things as just one thing, but it’s one thing that is actually affecting other areas of women participation, be it in business participation, because so much businesses are going online, so much marketing is actually going online. And when women can’t participate in these social spaces, it means that they can’t market themselves. They can’t even run for office. There’s this training that we actually did after Kenyan elections, where we called women who vied and started getting their experiences on how they performed and whether they would like to vie again. And they were so discouraged because of the journey that they’ve gone through. So it’s a series of harassment one after another. And through the campaign period, they think that this is just the last one until we go to vote. And then after voting, they even realized that even the promises that they got from the ground, nothing just actually materialized. So they think back and they’re like, all these hurdles that they’ve passed through, including cyber harassment, was it worth it when it doesn’t actually translate even to a single vote? So when we actually did that training, and it was a wholesome training, not just a cyber security training, but also for them how to engage themselves, much of it covered media literacy and digital literacy. You start getting hope and different approaches in how they also engage the society. So coming back to the terminologies and how they help, how to translate on the ground, is that some of these approaches, we have to be careful in how we translate them from the West coming down. Because it means that these trainings that we do, as much as we get funding from them, that one, they’re not having an impact and two, they’re even doing worse because they go out there with so much confidence, but yet they get even more backlash when it comes to implementation. I think the first digital security trainings we emphasize on women having a thick skin, which really didn’t help. And we tried to conceptualize things like, how should we take on our content online? Should we go with the norms that are actually there? If a woman is supposed to market themselves with how they dress, should they continue? Or should they continue with engaging with content? And we started mapping out how much of these women or giving examples of women politicians, especially who actually engage online with political ideologies rather than other types of content that are quite popular. And when telling them that their realities, that there are women who are out there who don’t actually conform to this content that are popular and actually attract so much cyber bullying and cyber violence and they can actually engage in ideologies, then they start seeing these examples as things that can actually work and they’ve actually started trying them out. So, yeah, in conclusion, I think, yeah, this, we can form our own ideologies of how that would look like and how, what approaches that you can use in engaging when seeking higher positions, political positions or whatever social positions that you want.

Audience:
Thank you, everyone. And so my first response, not a question, just supplementing the conversation. She’s asked a question that, are you equipping policy makers with evidence? And that is my thought process this whole time, which takes me back to a time last year when I was invited as a note taker for a consultation meeting where our, my name is Claire and I’m from Uganda, our Ministry of Information and Technology was trying to introduce a bill that is going to review policies and laws governing the media industry in Uganda and we’re holding consultation meetings. This particular consultation meeting was this big with just one woman, two women, another lady and myself was taking notes. So I listened to the conversation and the views that everyone in the room had and did my job as a note taker. When I was done with my report, what I did was to write my own recommendations as a note taker. But okay, well, this is what was discussed, but I think that we can do better to get more diverse views and I wrote about three pages of recommendations at the end and then included the list of women, what they do and how they can contribute to this discussion. And I also included evidence. One of the reports I attached was the report by policy that Bonita has been working on that talks about cyber harassment and stuff and other reports that have talked about issues affecting women in the media industry in Uganda. So I attached that to the report and included a note in the email to the person who had invited me. I said, here’s the report. I didn’t participate in the discussion because I had to listen to your views, but I’ve also added my views as a woman who is in the media industry and is affected by these issues. I’ve also included recommendations of women you can invite in future. Within a month or so, there was another activity that was involving the women that I had listed. So I think sometimes you just have to use the little opportunity you have to make your mark.

Tobias Thiel:
Thank you. Yes, thank you. I just wanted, from the perspective of a policymaker and the German Development Corporation, address some of the things that have been said here. I mean, first of all, I very much agree with my co-panelists that labels are something that is quite difficult. And we have, I would say, quite different conceptualizations of what feminism means, both between the global north and the global south. But it is also something that, even if I look at my own country, Germany, you will find a huge diversity of different feminist perspectives and streams. And I think what is important is not to lose the final end out of sight, which is that, I mean, there certainly are differences, but I think quite often the issues that we’re facing are quite basic. And there’s a lot of common ground, there are a lot of interfaces between different diverging opinions that we share together. And I think if we want to achieve something jointly, I think we should focus on that rather than dwelling on or having conceptual debates about which label is the right one. The second point that I think concerns us as policymakers a lot is also the question of how we translate what we observe, what we see into practice. Because we, I mean, we are always interested in improving the development interventions that we do. And I think it’s very important to have discussions like this and rely on the findings of research to actually have evidence-based interventions. And I think we often find that we’re still lacking a lot of detailed knowledge of what other specific obstacles that women face in terms of access to digital services, for example. On the one hand, so what’s the diagnosis of what are the issues? And on the other hand, what are effective ways, even if we know them, how to address them? Because we often work also in highly complex multi-stakeholder policy environments where there are power structures ingrained in informal structures, in ministries, in organizations. And so even having just a diagnosis is not enough to really design effective interventions. And I think that’s why the discussions like this are very important.

Audience:
Hi, everyone. My name is Tashi, I’m from India. It’s been a very fascinating discussion because although I’m not from the region, I have worked in the region in some way or the other. And I like how everyone talks about policy, people talk about regulation. My question was, I was actually looking at what are some of the best practices and solutions that organizations have when it comes to convincing women to come forward and report a complaint? And also, I mean, a complaint of an abuse or harm. I used to work on building multilingual repository of hate speech lexicons. Policy, people were talking, someone was here from policy. Policy actually used a data set for a report that they did out for online abuses against female politicians in Uganda. And I think there’s also a new report out for the Tanzanian region. I’m more interested in learning about how these discussions can help platform accountability, not with big tech, but maybe smaller platforms that would take these mechanisms seriously. But I’m really curious as to how Mozilla’s leading that work or GIZ is leading that work in keeping platforms accountable and how do we find solutions? Because there are so many of these mechanisms, but we also see that a lot of women are not confident with moving online and sharing their grievances or complaint. And I know that I’m running out of time, but yes, I was just curious.

Alice Munyua:
Yeah, that would be the last question. And perhaps you can, Tobias, you want to start on how perhaps GIZ deals with that, how GIZ deals with that first? Do you want to start? The question is some examples. And we want. Yeah, we’ve only got five more minutes, I’m so sorry. You know, at Mozilla, we’re very lucky. To begin with, Mozilla was founded by a woman. So, you know, and we have, you know, Mitchell Baker, she’s the founder, chairperson, and current CEO of the Mozilla Corporation. And she’s the founder and CEO of the Mozilla Corporation. And she’s the founder and CEO of the Mozilla Corporation. And she’s the founder and CEO of the Mozilla Corporation. And actually, more than nearly 90% of the executives are women. So, very, very proud of Mozilla. You know, and we actually really work hard to try and engage as many women as we can, and not just engaging them, but we go beyond. For example, you know, understanding the role that women play in society and community, that there’s still that societal experience that there’s still that societal expectation. So we make space for that kind of thing. For example, you know, parental, understanding that their parental obligations are usually, you know, placed on women. And a real emphasis on engaging on capacity building, especially, you know, for women. We haven’t got it right yet. It’s still an issue, and it’s still an issue that we are struggling with, even as a mission-based company. And really looking forward to working with other organizations to be able to find really lasting and sustainable solutions to support that. And in fact, that brings me to one issue that we’ve done, for example, and together with the African Union and TOELA, we conducted a research on the startup ecosystem and women entrepreneurs, because that is one thing that we haven’t touched on. And when you look at that, for example, the African continent, more than 80% of micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs are women. And yet, they receive only… This, this, this…