We strongly condemn the recent online attacks targeting the #TakeBacktheTech and #ImagineAFeministInternet hashtags and associated initiatives during a tweet chat organized by the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Best Practice Forum on Countering Online Violence and Abuse.
FRIDAY FILE – To commemorate World Radio Day on February 13 AWID spoke with Anna Mayimona Ngemba, Director of Union Congolaise des Femmes des Médias [1] (Congolese Union of Women in Media - UCOFEM) to learn more about how radio, and media in general, is used do advance or hinder women’s human rights in Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the global North, news headlines frequently play on deeply-rooted prejudices. For example, following the Oklahoma bombing in the US in 1995 or, more recently, the post-9-11 Washington sniper attacks, the media were quick to blame Muslim "terrorists." In both cases, the perpetrators turned out to be disaffected US nationals with no links to the Islamic world or faith. In Britain, and in Europe more generally, the media most often portray minorities as homogeneous groups, frequently represented by religious 'leaders'.
FRIDAY FILE: In the struggle for gender equality, the media should be a powerful ally. Unfortunately it strongly reinforces the status quo, particularly in the Global South.
By Kathambi Kinoti
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) held a global meeting on gender, sexuality and the internet, in Malaysia between 12 and 17 April, to explore and develop the collective understanding of what a feminist internet looks like. AWID interviewed Nadine Moawad[i] about the meeting, and APC's EROTICS project.
FRIDAY FILE – February 13 is World Radio Day[1], and this year UNESCO recommended undertaking actions to promote gender equality. AWID spoke to feminist activists and communicators from Costa Rica and Argentina about how women and other social movements are taking ownership of the radio to ensure it reflects their issues and agendas.
By Gabriela De Cicco
“Without a doubt information and communication technologies (ICTs) are changing the way we carry out our activism – in our neighbourhoods or globally – and women´s rights activists are in the thick of it.” AWID interviewed Erika Smith of the Association for Progressive Communications Women's Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP) on women using ICTs to mobilize.
By Gabriela De Cicco
AWID: Can you tell us some of the ways that ICTs can and have been used to mobilize especially with regard to women’s rights?
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Linda Nibango is a feminist journalist based in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and an AWID member since May 2015. She told us about her vision for this year’s International Women’s Day, the impact of online journalism, the right to freedom of expression, and the campaign to #FreeRebekaKavugho.
There are a number of ways to participate in the Forum online, whether you’re there in person or virtually.