What is at stake? African women and internet governance/Quels sont les enjeux? Femme Africaine et gouvernance de I'Internet.

• Author: Butegwa, Christine

Introduction

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the way the world works and contributed to socio-economic development especially in the fields of health, education and commerce. At the same time, the rapid development of ICTs has the potential to increase the divide between the information and resource haves and have-nots; and to perpetuate power relations that maintain the patriarchal status qua. If governed equitably on the other hand, ICTs have the potential to tip the balance towards equitable power relations in the use of, access to and participation in ICT decision-making processes.

In discussions on Internet governance, many women activists have pointed to the lack of a gendered analysis of Internet governance issues in the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG) report. Is there such a thing as gender aspects of Internet governance or does Internet governance boil down to the technical and political as has occupied post-July 2005 discussions on the subject?

I would propose that there are gender aspects to the Internet governance debate. I will illustrate this from an African gender perspective and highlight some Internet governance issues that are particularly important to African women.

Definition of Internet governance

Internet governance has been defined by the WGIG as 'the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet. (1)

The inclusion of content and use of the Internet within the framework of Internet Governance illustrates the importance of end-user applications of ICTs, therefore placing content at par with structural and technical aspects of the technologies. While this is to be appaulded, including content in the definition raises concerns on the broader consequences to freedom of expression given that governments in Africa, Asia and Saudi Arabia have already sought to regulate content. Abuse of women's rights and human rights, including the right to information, has been justified on the pretext of protecting women. We feel that freedom of expression and human rights should be cross-cutting in Internet governance issues, and therefore stress the need for a clear definition of 'harmful' content that is based on human rights norms and standards.

Infrastructure

Providing universal, equitable and affordable access to ICT will create access to opportunities for all (3). This will however remain a myth in Africa, already faced with an urban-rural and gender divide, unless the issue of infrastructure is dealt with. ICT costs affect African women's access to and use of ICTs for development. Internet connection costs are therefore a key issue in dosing the gender digital divide.

For Africa too, the potential loss of revenue from new telephony systems such as voice over IP (VOIP) is of major concern. This loss of revenue would in turn affect the capacity of African governments to provide gendered universal access to ICTs. Short term compensatory measures supported by the international community should be set up to assist Africa to offset these losses.

Radio Spectrum

Radio is the most accessible ICT in Africa, especially for women. With the growth of community radio in Africa, radio is increasingly becoming an avenue for African women to access and create local information. Community broadcasting is not-for-profit, has community ownership and control, and has community participation. Media owned, controlled and produced by, for and about communities can serve as a means for communities to engage in debate on development, governance and human rights at Focal level, and the promotion of local culture and indigenous knowledge (4). Despite the significance of community radio as a participatory ICT, many African countries are yet to provide a conducive regulatory environment for public and community broadcasting.

Internet governance at national level should therefore promote the necessity for an independent broadcast body to regulate airwaves. Given that the radio spectrum is a national resource...