DELHI, India
19 September 2017, 10:30 – 11:30 (IST/UTC+5:30)
10:35 – 11:10: Live panel: Digital Divides
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report 2016 indicates that although average human development, improved significantly across all regions over the last fifteen years, one in three people worldwide still continue to live in low levels of human development. Systemic discrimination against women, indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities, among other groups, are the barriers which are leaving them behind.
The ITU Report on ICT Facts and Figures 2016 indicates that the global Internet user gender gap has grown from 11% in 2013 to 12.2% in 2016 and developing nations such as Africa (23%) have a larger access gap than developed nations such as Americas (2%). They had further estimated that by the end of 2016, only one in seven people is expected to be online from Least Developing Nations (LDCs), of which, only 31% of them would be women.
Such digital divides arising out of economic, gender disparities, discrimination and inequalities, especially of people living in the developing and least developed countries, have severely impacted the digital divide. Therefore, a stronger focus on those excluded and on actions to dismantle these barriers is urgently needed to ensure that everyone gets equal access online.
The discussion would be around the following points:
- In a world where everyone has Internet access, will all segments of society have an equal opportunity to meaningfully participate in and benefit from the Internet?
- For developing nations such as India, how do we effectively connect our people while reducing the digital divides, especially the gender digital divide.
- Will countries with advanced Internet technology, infrastructure, and innovation accelerate their lead or will developing regions close the gap?
- Will differences in connection technology, quality, and level of Internet openness lead to fundamentally different Internet experiences and levels of opportunity for users?
Moderator: Amrita Choudhury, ISOC Delhi Chapter
Panelists:
- Ms. Japleen Pasricha – Feminism India
- Mr Osama Manzar – Digital Empowerment Foundation
- Mr. Rajesh Chharia – Internet Service Providers association of India
- T.Santhosh – Additional Director, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India
Venue
Vivanta Taj Ambassador Hotel
Sujan Singh Park,
Subramaniam Bharti Marg, New Delhi
Delhi 110003, India
