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Key Recommendations for the CSW67 Zero Draft

The ARG has prepared the following recommendations for inclusion in the CSW67 Zero Draft on behalf of girls and women in all their diversity, including underrepresented, rural, grassroots/ community-roots and indigenous women and girls, widows, women on the move, women with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ people. As a result of consulting with over 700 individuals of our global, grassroots community including members of the global NGO CSWs to understand their lived experiences, we have identified these critical concerns for “the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age.” Women and girls should be included in the leadership and decision-making processes for the implementation of all five of these recommendations.

01

Digital Education & STEM

Invest in and strengthen gender-responsive policies, programs and laws that prioritize girls and women in all their diversity. Eliminate the digital gender gap by providing them with critical digital fluency skills, ranging from basic digital literacy to advanced technical skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and in information and communications technology (ICT). Read more.

02

Impact of Technology on Women's Human Rights

Develop international standards and guidelines to address and eliminate the risks to the digital privacy and safety, autonomy, and dignity of women and girls in all their diversity. Women and girls of all ages are particularly at risk for online abuse, cyberbullying and gender-based violence stemming from the pervasive sexism and misogyny on digital platforms which thwart their fundamental human rights. Read more.

03

Access to Technology for Rural Communities, Older Women, and Women with Disabilities

Ensure universal access to essential and gender inclusive public and private digital infrastructure including electricity and frontier data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations to bridge existing digital divides. Guarantee access to digital technologies in rural areas and ensure equal opportunity particularly for older women and women with disabilities to be empowered with ICTs, through not only physical access and skills development, but also design that respects the needs of all people following consultation with those directly affected. Read more.

04

Financial Resources for Women for Technology

Enhance official development assistance commitments and improve public finance and investments, as well as leverage private sector partnerships, for universal, affordable, equal and unfettered access to digital technologies for women and girls in all their diversity. This can include, but is not limited to, free device distribution, creation of affordability schemes, and affordable data plans. Read more.

05

Youth & Adolescents

Engage with girls and young women in the formulation, design and development of adequately financed policies and programs that prioritize digital literacy skills, online safety, and STEM education for girls, young women and marginalized groups. Address unequal gender norms, policies and laws and lack of infrastructure that hinder girls’ access, engagement and safety with digital tools, ICT and STEM education. Read more.

Community Survey on the CSW67 Priority Theme

This year, we are focusing on consulting with our global, grassroots community to understand their lived experiences that pertain to the CSW67 theme on innovation and technological change.

To that end, the ARG sent a survey to our constituency to collect their input about the priority theme and their community's experience with technology.

Read the results of the survey for a regional breakdown of the data and the community's top concerns relating to digital technology and women's rights and empowerment.

ARG Members

The ARG consists of members from civil society around the globe.

Co-Chairs:
Ivy Koek, NGO CSW/NY Vice Chair and Soka Gakkai International
Ani Karapetyan, NGO CSW/NY Member-at-Large and Armenian International Women’s Association

  • Ali Foote, NGO CSW/NY
  • Alena Popova, Wilson Center
  • Beth Blissman, Loretto Community
  • Carla Cordova, NGO CSW/NY
  • Devan Zingler, NGO CSW/NY
  • Fernanda Vazquez, Red Latinoamerica y Caribeña de Jóvenes por los Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos (RedLAC)
  • Gillian D'Souza-Nazareth, Red Dot Foundation
  • Hawa Dunor Varney, Women in Agriculture for Sustainable Development
  • Houry Geudelekian, Unchained At Last
  • Julianna Larock, International Federation of Social Workers
  • Julie Rajan, Vital Voices
  • Lana Finikin, Sistren Theatre Collective and Huairou Commission
  • Linda Witong Abrahm, Soroptomist International
  • Lois Aduamoah-Addo, WILDAF Ghana
  • Mabel Bianco, Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer and NGO CSW LAC
  • Marina Pisklakova-Parker, Vital Voices
  • Mercy Njili, MIFALI
  • Micaela Tompkins, NGO CSW/NY
  • Nancy Makeoh, Women for a Change, Cameroon
  • Pamela Morgan, Zonta International
  • Oriana Bracaglia
  • Rahel Beigel, Women's Refugee Commission
  • Rosa Lizarde, Feminist Task Force
  • Samreen Shahbaz, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
  • Sandra Enih, Moving in Feminist with Adolescent Leaders Involved (MIFALI)
  • Shaila Rao Mistry, Graduate Women International & Women Graduates USA and STEM Institute
  • Susan O'Malley, International Federation of Business and Professional Women
  • Terry Ince, CEDAW Committee of Trinidad and Tobago

ARG's Work for Other CSWs

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