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Internet Governance, Sexuality and Women's Rights

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a key, robust and relatively open multi-stakeholder platform created by the United Nations to discuss public policy matters related to internet governance. However, it has been a challenging space for women's rights and sexual rights advocates. In the fifth and final year of its mandate, women's rights are still being dwarfed as a critical issue to be debated in this arena, while sexuality issues although present, is not seen as a matter of rights.

What is the role of the internet in defending and realising women's rights and sexual rights? What are our positions as women's rights and sexual rights advocates on how the internet should be governed?

Join the debate from 14-17 September on GenderIT.org!

How & Where?
1) Join our workshops online: you will be able to watch both workshops organised by APC WNSP with key partners web-casted live on the IGF website, and join the debate using text chat or audio. To participate remotely, go to the IGF website on the day of the event, and click on the workshop link. You will be taken directly to the page where it is webcasted: http://tinyurl.com/2u9zkla

* Workshop 1 - Sexual rights, openness and regulatory systems When? Tuesday, September 14 (day 1), 11:30 – 13:30, Room 2 This workshop will present opinions from various stakeholders on the competing rights and interests on the topic of sexual rights and openness. It will examine the values and ways different users negotiate with internet content and risks, and the impact and potential of regulatory mechanisms in the recognition and realisation of sexual rights and gender equality. http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/index.php/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSProposals2010View&wspid=73

* Workshop 2 - Protecting women’s rights: Internet content from a gender perspective When? Friday, September 17 (day 4), 11:30 - 13:30, Room 3 This workshop will explore how to protect not only children, but also women from harm experienced or facilitated through the Internet, while at the same time ensuring freedom of expression and business interests. It is an important opportunity to engage various stakeholders in a discussion on content regulation, peer review mechanisms and technical solutions to protect women's rights. http://www.intgovforum.org/cms/index.php/component/chronocontact/?chronoformname=WSProposals2010View&wspid=96

You can use a time zone converter to see what hour will be in your country: http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc

2) Twitter: Follow us on Twitter and join the conversation during IGF. Post your questions and thoughts using the hashtag #igf10 #genderit (or #genderitES for Spanish). We will raise your thoughts at sessions we attend on your behalf. All tweets will be aggregated on the GenderIT.org.

3) Blog @ Feminist Talk: You can follow our blog posts in Feminist Talk section of GenderIT.org website (http://www.genderit.org/feminist-talk) and submit your inputs or leave your comments. To submit your input you should create an account on GenderIT.org (scroll down to bottom right corner) and then go to Create Feminist Talk. You can also send it to genderit@apcwomen.org and we will post it for you . You must enter www.genderit.org, go to “Create an account” on the right side column http://www.genderit.org/es/user/register and complete the fields.

To stay informed on discussions concerning internet governance, sexuality and women's rights sign up to Gender Centred - GenderIT.org thematic bulletin: http://www.genderit.org/subscribe-bulletin

And to catch up on the GenderIT.org take on debates at previous IGFs, go to: http://www.genderit.org/category/process/internet-governance-forum-igf

Some food for thought:

In preparation for this year's IGF, we invite you to highlight some of the key issues on this subject concerning internet governance, sexuality and women's rights.

* How can we make sure that the internet remains a space which is valuable for asserting and expanding our sexual rights? Does privacy and anonymity matter to you?

* Do you feel safe and comfortable when searching for information concerning sexual health and pleasure? Can you serve internet anonymously? If not, why?

* How can those who we seek to 'protect' such as children, women and other vulnerable citizens - be involved in developing policy and regulation around content regulations that are supposed to benefit them?

* Who would you like to be in position to protecting you or your children from harm in online spaces (e.g. state, internet service provider, school, parents, yourself)? How such protection should look like (e.g. content filtering, personal data protection)?

Email us your response to genderit@apcwomen.org or tweet us your thoughts! Don't forget to add the hashtag #igf10 #genderIT to your tweets.

In 09/09/2010

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