VA and the Egyptian Human Rights Forum will be presenting a panel at CSW67 on March 8th entitled: Current/Emerging Tech: Enhancing Gender Equality or Exacerbating Authoritarian Abuse?
The digital revolution has brought about many advancements and opportunities for women and for human rights defenders, but it has also raised concerns about its impact on gender equality and authoritarianism. Digital technologies have created opportunities for women to access information, connect with others, and participate in the global economy. Social media and other digital platforms have also been used to mobilize and amplify the voices of women’s rights activists.
On the other hand, the digital landscape is also plagued by gender-based violence, harassment, and discrimination. Time and again we saw how women and marginalized groups have been disproportionately affected by online harassment and hate speech, and they were often underrepresented in the tech industry. Research also indicated that women were more likely to be targeted by disinformation campaigns, and that authoritarian governments use digital tools to silence, defame, and repress women’s rights defenders.
Digital authoritarianism is a growing concern as technology becomes more sophisticated, and governments and non-government actors are using digital tools to silence critics, spread disinformation, and control public opinion. In many ways, digital authoritarianism is an extension of traditional forms of authoritarianism, but with the added power and reach of technology. This has resulted in increased surveillance, censorship, and repression of the rights of women and marginalized groups.
This panel will discuss the subversive nature of technology, and will highlight the need to address its negative impacts, especially as it relates to gender equality and human rights. The speakers are academics as well as human rights defenders from MENA/Egypt, and they have all been affected in many ways by these technologies.
Speakers are Marlyn Tadros, Samar ElHosseiny, Solafa Magdy.
This talk is co-sponsored by Virtual Activism and the Egyptian Human Rights Forum
