ご挨拶国立女性教育会館では、アジア諸国の女性リーダーを日本に招へいし、参加型の国際研修「アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画推進官・リーダーセミナー」を実施しています。
平成 26 年度は「ICT が拓く女性のエンパワーメント」をテーマに設定し 9 月 29 日
から 10 月 3 日に開催いたしました。この小冊子には、カンボジア、インド、フィリ
ピン、タイ、べトナム 5 か国から参加した 9 名の研修生が報告した ICT を活用した女
性の社会参画支援の取組みが紹介されています。
日本国内での活動の参考にしていただければ幸いです。
2015 年 3 月
独立行政法人国立女性教育会館
理事長 内海房子

Message from the President
The National Women’s Education Center invites women leaders in Asian
countries to Japan to hold the capacity-building training "Seminar for Gender
Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region."

Leader seminar was held from September 29 till October 3 2014, focusing

on “ITCs and Empowerment” This booklet introduce various initiatives to supportsocial participation of women utilizing ICTs, conducted in five countries of

Cambodia, India, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam.
It is my sincere hope that this display of efforts will be a source of ideas andinspiration to gender advocates and practitioners in Japan.
March, 2015
Fusako Utsumi
President, National Women’s Education Center

CAMBODIA

About Women

PromoteDialogue on Democracy

to use Facebook and Twitter to discuss
about good governance and election
Gender Based ViolenceINDIAINDIA

Reducing Gender Gap
in India:Role of Information
Communication
Technologies

ICT and Gender Practice models in India
ICT for economic
ICT for women’s health ICT for e-governanceempowerment• helps women to get • Reaching pregnant • Establishing onestop-shop run by
in touch withpost partum womenmarkets, to facilitate
to ensure delivery
women for peoplebusiness andof health services.
to accessincome generation • Example: Mothergovernment
and Child Tracking
schemes/
System (MCTS)
documents

•
•
•
•
•
•

Policy recommendations
ICTs need to be made more accessible and affordable to women
ICTs need to address gender-based violence
Create greater, sustainable opportunities to encourage women’s
economic empowerment through ICT
E-governance needs to promote women’s participation in local
planning and community monitoring of service delivery systematically
Need for a national e-health policy
To maximize girls’ education digital technologies need to be integrated
with existing government programs for girls education.

PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES
Women and Girls’ Empowerment
in the Digital Era
Prevention andElimination ofDiscrimination &Violence against
Women and Girls

Transparency &Delivery ofServices thru
ICTs; Access;Investment inDigital Literacy& ICT skills[Phil digitalstrategy, 2011-2015]

Promotion of
Gender Equality byAddressing
Negative Portrayalof Women in
Popular Media,(film television,
print, websites)

Taking control ofTechnology toaddress Violence& Abuse against
women and girls
throughawareness
campaigns, use ofmobile apps, etc.;
National VAW
Documentation
systemPHILIPPINE COMMISSION ON WOMEN“National Machinery for the Advancement of Women”
www.pcw.gov.ph
www.fma.ph
www.facebook.com/takebackthetechPH

THAILAND



 VIET NAM

Viet Nam delegation
ICTs is the best way to empower women

Women can join in ICTs area with high income

Having ICTs- related forum series for women

ICTs area is paid much attention by Government inrecent years. As a result, ICTs infrastructure has
been improved and more people, including womencan easily access to ICT devices such as computer,laptop, smart phone

Women in remote, mountainous areas andwomen ethnic minority women can access to
ICTs

Ms Chu Thi Thanh Ha – Deputy General Directorof FPT Group one of the big ICT company in Viet
Nam that encourages for many fem

Award for female engineers as incentives forwomen平成 26 年度アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画推進官・リーダーセミナー

Highlights of 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region「ICT が拓く女性のエンパワーメント」“ICT and Women's Empowerment”
2014 年 9 月 29 日〜 10 月 03 日

開会挨拶
Welcoming Address
内海 房子 NWEC 理事長
Ms. Fusako Utsumi,
講義
President, NWEC
女性情報をつくる
LectureCreating Women's
Information

カントリーレポートの発表
Country Report Presentation

講義
人身取引被害者サポートセンター
ライトハウスによる取組み
Lecture on initiatives ofLight House Support Centerfor Human Trafficking Victims

視察と講義 日本女性学習財団
Lecture & Discussion at Japan Association for Women's Education

講義
ICT とジェンダー：企業における事例
LectureSupport for Womenin Home-based Employment
by Utilizing ICT

講義
メディアとジェンダー
LectureMedia and Gender
日本文化の紹介Introduction to Japanese Culture

埼玉県立川越女子高等学校の視察
Visit to Kawagoe Girls’ Senior High School

視察
女性教育情報センターとアーカイブセンター
Visit to NWEC Information Center for
Women's Education and
Women's Archives Center

閉講式
Closing Ceremony

Table of Contents
Message from the President
Ms. Fusako Utsumi
President, National Women's Education Center (NWEC)

Posters on Gender and ICT Initiatives in Five Asian Countries
Foreword
Chapter1.

ICT and Women's Empowerment ............................. 1



Dr. Masami Helen Ochi

Chapter2.

Report from Cambodia ............................................ 11

Ms. KEO, Vathna
Ms. CHIM, Manavy

Chapter3.

Report from India .................................................... 34
Dr. RIZVI, Zoya Ali
Dr. PRABHUGHATE, Priti Abhijit

Chapter4.

Report from the Philippines ..................................... 55
Ms. JUGUILON, Vichel RSE Eden
Ms. GARCIA, Liza Samonte

Chapter5.

Report from Thailand .............................................. 83
Ms. VIJITTRAKARNKUL, Natthita

Chapter6.

Report from Viet Nam ........................................... 104
Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Nga
Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Hoang Bich

Contributors’ Profile ................................................................. 117

Foreword
Since 2006, the National Women’s Education Center (NWEC) has held internationalseminars for women in leadership roles in the Asia Pacific region. Every year, the Seminarfor Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders has chosen emerging gender issues that arecommon in all countries, such as violence against women, promotion of girls’ education andgender-responsive disaster recovery. In the 2014 fiscal year, the seminar was held between
September 29 and October 3 under the theme of ICT and Women’s Empowerment. Nine
women leaders who work for national machineries, academic institution or non-governmentalorganizations, representing five countries in the Asia Pacific region (Cambodia, India, thePhilippines, Thailand and Vietnam), attended the seminar.
Viewed from the perspective of women’s participation in the society, rapid growth of
ICTs has had dual effects. While the spread of cell phones and social networks facilitatedformation of connections and sharing of information among women across national borders,it has also generated new gender issues, including violence against women in cyberspace, as
seen in revenge pornography.
This booklet is based on the country reports, which are included as a PowerPoint
document in English at the end of the booklet and analyses by the participants of the 2014
Leader Seminar regarding the current situation and challenges relating to gender issues and
ICT in their respective countries. The booklet also contains materials of poster sessions,shown in color at the beginning of the booklet, presented at the Seminar. The opinions shared
during the presentation of the country reports regarding the situations in the five Asian
countries, and reports that were written by the participants incorporating knowledge that theygained during the seminar in Japan are included. Legal systems concerning gender issues and
ICT, as well as actual cases of women’s empowerment efforts in each country are alsopresented in the booklet. It is our sincere hope that this booklet will offer some help in
promoting gender equality in all countries.

Fusako Utsumi
President
National Women’s Education CenterChapter 1 ICT and Women’s Empowerment
1. Introduction
Rapid technological innovations and a decline in the price of ICT (Information andCommunications Technology) facilitated a sweeping global spread of technology. Its impact
has spread to various industries beyond the science and technology industries. It has also
affected business models and a number of other areas, including the way people live and theirvalue systems. This report contains examinations about ICT and women’s empowerment in
six Asian countries, including Japan.
ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology. In this report, we will baseour discussions on the premise that information, technology and the ability to communicate
with others by applying information and technology are all equally important. In Japan, morethan 82% of people use the Internet and no significant gender gap is observed among users(総務省, 2014). In some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, however, women face
obstacles in using new technologies. For example, the benefit of the IT boom in India, acountry that many Japanese consider to be a major IT powerhouse, is not enjoyed equally by
women and men. It has been pointed out that some women “borrow” cell phones from theirfamily members (Chapter 3 Report from India). Even if access to ICT is equally open to bothgenders, challenges remain in place. In Thailand, the gender breakdown of Internet users has
been approximately equal to that in Japan. It has been reported, however, that women’s
employment in ICT-related industries is mostly in jobs that do not require advanced skills,
such as the repair and maintenance of electronic equipment (Chapter 5 Report from Thailand).
These two examples suggest the need to examine the issue of access to information
processing technology, which is the case in India, separately from the issue of genderinequality in employment opportunities for higher paying jobs, which is the case in Thailand.
Nonetheless, both examples testify to the fact that the growth of new technology and its
applications are not gender neutral and that women tend to be marginalized when it comes tothe benefits brought on by ICT.
Next, let us take a look at the relationship between ICT and women’s empowerment. In
the fields of development studies and gender studies, empowerment refers to the process inwhich people who are placed in socially disadvantaged gets power. Does ICT promote genderequality or does it widen the existing disparity? There is more than one answer to this

─1─



question. Viewed in the framework of the participation of women in society, the growth of
ICT has had two conflicting effects. On the positive side, ICT can promote gender equality
and help bring about social changes. More specifically, ICT is used to help women achieve
economic independence and raise public awareness that violence against women is a problem
that affects all of society. On the other hand, the negative aspects of ICT cannot be dismissed.
For instance, new modes of violence that have arisen in cyberspace, including revenge
pornography and stalking activities using e-mail and social networking sites, have been
mentioned repeatedly in the five country reports that are contained in this report.
ICT’s growth is important not only for technological improvement, but also because dataapplications enabled by such technological improvement create diverse values. This report
adopts a broad definition of ICT and analyzes not only the technical aspects of information
processing and information communication, but also the role of media in how it produces,
processes and disseminates gender-related information.
2. ICT and Gender Issues in Japan
Next, we would like to review the current situation in Japan. As we are unable to provide
a comprehensive review here, due to limited space, we will instead focus mainly on thetrends since the 1990s regarding feminist movements to promote gender equality in Japanand ICT’s relevance to those movements, based on knowledge gleaned from lectures andvisits during the Leader Seminar that was implemented by the NWEC in FY2014. The
seminar was the impetus for the publication of this report.
2-1.

Women’s Movements in Japan and ICT—“Creating” Women’s Information
The involvement of ICT in women’s movements in Japan dates back to the 1990s.

During the 90s, the majority of the Japanese viewed equipment such as personal computers(PCs) and mobile telephones strictly as a promising industry. Not many saw its potential for
creating social values. Accordingly, the term IT industry was extensively used. However,feminists who instinctively sensed that the new technology had the potential to change
society recognized that “C” (of communication), which is lacking in mainstreaming businessmodels, was essential to that change and that there was a need to re-examine the role of themedia, which handles communication, from a gender perspective. (村松, 1997; 鈴木,
2005:81).

─2─

Item J (Women and the Media) of the Beijing Platform for Action, which is the outcome
document of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, illuminates thefact that such awareness of the issues was not limited to Japan.
During the past decade, advances in information technology have facilitated a global
communications network that transcends national boundaries and has an impact on public
policy, private attitudes and behaviour, especially of children and young adults. Everywhere
the potential exists for the media to make a far greater contribution to the advancement of
women (Item J 234).
During the Beijing Conference, NGO Forum on Women, Beijing '95 was held in parallel tothe intergovernmental conference. More than 6,000 gender scholars and activists from Japanattended the NGO Forum. After their attendance at the international conference, full-scaleuse of the Internet started as a means of exchanging information among people who wereinvolved in women’s movements. One of the visible outcomes of the Beijing Conference as it
related to information on women was the formation of the NGO Report Preparatory
Committee in 1999 by groups of women who attended the conference and united with one
another.
At the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held in 1999, a resolution wasreached to create NGO Alternative Reports that summarized the status of progress on efforts
to improve women’s status throughout the world in time for Women 2000, which was aspecial session of the United Nations general assembly, to be held in 2000 in New York. The
NGO Alternative Reports summarized the findings of studies conducted to measure theextent of efforts made to achieve gender equality from the point of view of civil society,separately from government reports. The Japan NGO Report, which was created by Japanesewomen’s organizations, was eventually reflected in one of the regional reports that werecompiled for each of the five regions of the world and submitted. (日本 NGO レポートを作る会, 1999) Because only a limited number of women were able to actually attend
international conferences such as the Beijing Conference and other United Nations
conferences, reporting on women’s opinions and activities, compiling the information, anddisseminating it to the international community via the Internet in the form of NGO reports
was a dramatic achievement in the history of women’s movements.

─3─



The importance of sharing information that adopts women’s points of view was not
restricted to the dissemination of information to the international community. It was also
reflected in movements at home. An information network on women’s policies, or Josei
Seisaku Joho Network (JJ Network), was established in 1996 by some female members of theDiet along with female NGO leaders with the purpose of sharing information about the
progress of new laws on gender equality and lobbying related activities. JJ Network
published four or five newsletters every month, covering Parliamentary actions (development
and summary of minutes of plenary sessions and committees of both houses of Parliament),
information on councils about women’s policies, and women’s actions that were not reported
by major mass media. The newsletters were sent over fax. JJ Network was unique in that it
created a loose circle for information exchange among people who were interested inwomen’s policies, and that it was a bidirectional network, allowing each participant to beboth a sender and a recipient of information. JJ Network continued until 2004 (日本女性学
習財団).
Naila Kabeer, a Bangladeshi-born British social economist, coined the term “Power with”
in her study of the empowerment concept. The term refers to women forming lateralconnections at grass-root levels and raising their voices (Kabeer, 1994). The actions of the
NGO Report Preparatory Commission and JJ Network during the 90s are notable examplesof the “Power With” concept that was advocated by Kabeer as women pursued the goal of
creating and disseminating information that met their needs.
2-2.

Media-related Issues in Japan

Since the 1990s, gender equality centers and women’s centers were established in Japanas key locations to promote gender equality in respective communities. As of 2014, 386
women’s centers were operated by governments and private organizations throughout Japan.
At women’s centers, various lectures and study sessions are held on issues such as women’s
way of life, values of housework, and problems at work place. A course on criticallyexamining media (media literacy) has been held, too. When we examined mass media fromthe gender perspective, it became evident that “Print and electronic media in most countries
do not provide a balanced picture of women's diverse lives and contributions to society in achanging world.” (Beijing Platform for Action, Item J-236)
Let us take a look at the current situation faced by women who work in the broadcast

─4─

industry. According to a survey conducted principally by the Society of Japanese Women inRadio and Television, women accounted for 13.4% of the total workforce at broadcast
stations and newspaper publishing companies in 1993. This percentage rose only minimallyto 15.0% in 1999 and 15.4% in 2004 (谷岡, 2011:222). These figures show that women are
still a minority in the very place from which information is disseminated in spite of therevisions to the Gender Equality in Employment Act (in 1996 and 2006) and the enactment of
the Basic Act for Gender-Equal Society (in 1999).
Male dominated studios are even producing TV commercials that affirm existing genderdivision of labor. One widely-known example is a TV commercial for instant noodles thatwas made by House Foods in 1975. When the ad was broadcast, the catch phrase “We (girls)
are the ones who prepare it! I (a boy) am the one who eats it!” used in the commercial met
protests from citizen groups for fear that it affirmed the stereotypical gender division of labor,
and the ad was halted. (行動する会記録編集委員会, 1999).
As this shows, the mass media has yet to pay adequate attention to gender issues.

Nevertheless, the climate is shifting. One new development is that even in the world of TV
commercials, expressions that are not bound by traditional gender division of labor are
emerging. In Japanese society too, men who actively share responsibilities of householdchores and child care, are called iku-men, or child-raising men. The term is gradually takingroots. During lectures at the Leader Seminar, a lecturer introduced a detergent commercial inwhich a man does laundry and sews an appliqué on a nursery school uniform for his child.
An active discussion followed about the portrayal of women and how gender roles arepresented in commercials in the seminar participants’ originating countries. Although theprogress is slow, the number of women managers in the broadcast industry has been growing,offering signs of change. Media has also become diverse. Since the Great East Japan
Earthquake that struck in 2011, information is disseminated actively by alternative media,
providing reports that are not covered by major mass media and other reports that adopt the
viewpoints of gender and minority groups.
2-3.

Experimenting with New Ways to Work through Telework

ICT is also changing the way people work. In Japan, people who are 65 years or older
account for 23% of the total population (2010). By 2060, that percentage is projected to riseto 39.9%. The decrease in the birthrate and the aging of the population are expected to

─5─



accelerate at an unprecedented pace. In contrast, 4.28 million of the non-working population
wishes to be employed (2013 average). Women account for three quarters of this group, andnumber approximately 3.15 million. Reasons for women quitting work include childbirth andchild care (2.05 million), lack of a suitable job (.97 million), and nursing care (.16 million).
The absence of employment opportunities that match women’s life cycles can be said to be
one cause of women’s involuntary unemployment. At the same time, baby boomers are now
reaching age 70, raising the possibility that they will need nursing care. A survey by the
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour revealed more than 70% of workers regardless ofgender (78% of women and 72.1% of men) are worried about their ability to keep their jobs
while providing nursing care at the same time (Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting).
Given this situation, ICT-based work-at-home programs or telework are receiving
attention as new ways of working. Considering importance of telework that enable single
mothers and other women who gave up employment for such reasons as child care tocontinue to work while achieving a work-life balance, NWEC arranged a lecture during theLeader Seminar about NTT Communications’ initiative to support women working at homewith the use of ICT.
The company has operated a virtual contact center since 2001 by using telephone
operators who work from home. Telephone operators, who are called CAVA (an abbreviation
for .com Advisor & Valuable Agent), are chosen from among those who pass the .com Master
Internet examination and receive training. Operators consist of work-at-home telephone staff
members who provide Internet technical support services from home, and home-based staff
members who visit customers’ offices to provide support services. As of 2014, NTT
Communications’ virtual call center employed 1,000 work-at-home telephone staff and 900
home-based staff who make customer calls. Together these workers provided services toapproximately 8 million customers.
The attributes of staff members vary. There are women who are raising young children,
people who left corporate positions, and women who are providing nursing care for family
members. The system uses cloud technology and thus enables operators to perform theirwork by referring to scripts on a personal computer screen in their homes. The use of cloudtechnology is beneficial to corporations as the risk of customer information leakage isreduced. Workers can work at home when they want for as long as they wish while
improving their ICT skills. It is thus a win-win situation (Kobayashi, 2014).

─6─

According to the 2014 ICT White Paper (総務省, 2014), the ICT environment ofcorporations is improving. However, only about ten percent of corporations adopt telework.
In comparison, the majority of people, regardless of gender, wish to telework. This indicatesthe construction of systems to enable people to work in diverse ways lags behind people’s
desire to practice such new ways. It is hoped that many more such attempts will be made in
the future to make it possible for both men and women to work flexibly.
3. To link ICT to Women’s Empowerment
So far in this chapter, we have examined the history of ICT’s involvement in women’s
movements, the current media environment, and corporations’ initiatives in relation to ICT
and gender issues in Japan. What kinds of measures are effective for linking ICT to women’s
empowerment? Chapters 2 through 6 of this booklet present the best practices of ICT use inpromoting women’s social participation, as well as challenges faced in each country. Pleaserefer to the country reports for details. Before closing Chapter 1, the five countries’ bestpractices are summarized as follows:
In Cambodia, social media is used as an important tool to ensure violence against womenis recognized by all of society and to educate the public about prevention. In addition, acampaign entitled Take Back the Tech! is led by a civil society organization. In India, cell
phone usage has been linked to improved maternal and child health. In the Philippines, asystem to control documents on VAW cases (VAW DocS) was launched by the Philippine
Commission on Women. A contest has also been held to develop cell phone applications for
women. As in Cambodia, initiatives to return technology to women’s hands are also abundantin the Philippines. From Thailand, reports were made of community ICT learning centers thatare operated to provide life-long learning, as well as a gender-sensitive drama series createdby Thai PBS. And finally from Vietnam, vocational training in the IT field to promote theeconomic independence of women was introduced.
As stated at the outset of this chapter, the environment that surrounds ICT and genderissues differs from one country to another. Nonetheless, the fact that deep-rooted beliefs ingender division of labor and male-dominated organizational culture stand in the way of
promoting women’s participation in society with the use of ICT indicates the presence ofcommon problems that transcend national boundaries and cultural differences. In order toovercome such challenges, a mechanism has to be built that drives society as a whole to

─7─



respect women’s human rights, and at the same time make visible and communicate theconcrete achievements of ICT-based support to women faced with challenges.

─8─

References
Kabeer, Naila, 1994, Reversed Realities Gender Hierarchies in Development Thought, Verso,
London.
行動する会記録集編集委員会編、1999 年、『行動する女たちが拓いた道 : メキシコ
からニューヨークへ 』、未来社
鈴木みどり、2005 年、「メディア・リテラシーとジェンダー」北九州市立男女共同参画センタームーブ編著『ジェンダー白書 3――女性とメディア』、明石書店
総務省、2014 年、『平成 26 年版 情報通信白書 ICT がもたらす世界規模でのパラダイムシフト』、総務省
谷岡理香、2011 年、「放送と女性の仕事」日本女性放送者懇談会編『放送ウーマンのいま――厳しくて面白いこの世界』ドメス出版、219-236 頁
日本 NGO レポートをつくる会、1999 年、『日本 NGO レポート 女性 2000 年会議に向けて』、日本 NGO レポートをつくる会
村松泰子・宮田加久子・中村昌子編著 江利川滋著、1997 年、『女性のパソコン利用と情報社会の展望』富士通ブックス
Primary Source
Yoko Kobayashi, “Initiative to Support Women’s Home-based Employment with the Use of
ICT,” lecture materials from the 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Leaders in
the Asia Pacific Region, National Women’s Education Center, 2014
小林洋子、2014 年、「ICT を活用した女性の在宅就業支援の取組み」、国立女性教育会館平成 26 年度アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画官・リーダーセミナー講義
資料
Internet Sources
日本女性学習財団、キーワード・用語解説 JJ ネット女性政策情報ネットワーク
http://www.jawe2011.jp/cgi/keyword/keyword.cgi?num=n000048&mode=detail&catlist=1&
onlist=1&shlist=1 (Accessed on December 20, 2014)

─9─



第 4 回世界女性会議 行動綱領（総理府仮訳)
http://www.gender.go.jp/international/int_standard/int_4th_kodo/index.html(Accessed on January 5, 2015)
三菱 UFJ リサーチ＆コンサルティング株式会社、『仕事と介護の両立に関する労働者アンケート調査(平成 24 年度厚生労働省委託調査)
http://www.stat.go.jp/data/roudou/rireki/gaiyou.htm(Accessed on January 5, 2015)-─ 10 ─

Cambodia


Chapter 2 Report from Cambodia
1.

Cambodia’s picture of gender in the ICT Era
Information, Communication Technology (ICT) is continually referred to as one ofthe defining features for economic and social development. It creates economic growth inemerging high profit markets, improves productivity in existing industries and sectors,
provides job opportunities, can improve levels of and access to essentials such as health care,and can promote networking, participation and advocacy in society. However it is also
recognized that it can also exacerbate existing gender inequalities, and has created a “gender
digital divide” in Cambodia, where women are less likely to benefit from the opportunities
that engaging with ICT can bring.
In Cambodia, tradition information and communication services are of poor quality.
Public postal services are unreliable, mass media reaches only 85% of the population andonly 3.96% of Cambodians have a fixed phone line. Despite this, Cambodians have been
embracing technology through other mechanisms. With the introduction of wirelessbroadband technologies, Cambodian’s have been moving towards mobile and internet
services at a rapid rate. Mobile phone usage is reported to have a 135% penetration rate, withover 1 million people subscribing to the mobile broadband in early 2014. Today, 2.5 million
people have internet access at home.
This boom in ICT development has not been evenly distributed through Cambodiansociety.

The emerging ICT industries have predominately been located in the capital,

Phnom Penh, and there is a significant divide between men and women engaging with thistechnology in both the economic and social spheres. There has been very little research
regarding women and ICT, however it is evident that ICT is not gender-neutral. 2005, Hor
Sophia from the University of Phnom Penh stated: "within the given social and economic
structure, gender roles and relations, women and men cannot get equal access to ICT”. The
lack of access to ICT because of societal, cultural and market constraints have led women to
become distant from the global pool of information and knowledge. Very little has changed
since 2005.
Worldwide, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms, with over 1.35
billion people checking their account at least once a month. Over half of these users are─ 11 ─

Cambodia
women. According to “Geeks in Cambodia” as of June 4, 2014, Cambodia had 1,420,000
Facebook users, and it is the largest social media site in the country. 38% of Facebook users
are Cambodian women, well below the worldwide standard. Interestingly, the number one
interest on Facebook as ranked by Cambodians is technology, i.e. computers, mobile phones
and televisions and tablets.
In a study conducted by Open Institute in 2013, out of the surveyed 2000 Cambodian
people in rural and urban areas, 94.4% claimed to have their own phone(s). 87.1% of thewomen surveyed were found to own a phone, versus 95.1% of men.
In terms of education in Cambodia, there is gender parity in enrolment rates forprimary and lower secondary schools with 60% of children enrolled in lower secondary.
Statistics for completion of lower secondary education tell a different story, a story where thesocietal norms for young girls mean that completing education is not prioritized and women
either stay at home in caring roles or are forced to work to support the family. In 2014, it isexpected that 27% of girls will complete their lower secondary school compared to 44% ofboys. In upper secondary school, enrolment rates are 27% for girls and 32% for boys.
Introduction to ICT is only taught at upper secondary school, leaving only 27% of girls in
Cambodia who will receive any formal ICT training.
In tertiary education, according to a study conducted by Open Institute in 2010,40.19% of women were studying bachelor degrees, 19.24% enrolled in master’s degrees and5.57% of women were undertaking master’s degrees. 9.1% of women in 2009/2010 studied
ICT.

The survey, after focus group discussions with ICT students, found that womenchoose ICT studies less often than men for several reasons: they perceive that ICT jobs are
difficult and are often reserved for men only; they perceive that ICT is difficult to study
because of the mathematics involved, and because the field has too many areas of study; no
encouragement from the family; companies normally recruit only male staff; low interest in
studying ICT; Khmer cultural traditions (a mindset and traditional pressure that discourages
women from studying); a general opinion that ICT is only a job of repairing; it costs a lot ofmoney; and women have to do housework.
As can be seen by the table below, the gender divide is highlighted in the adultliteracy rates, and although it is evident that literacy rates are on the rise, the gender gap,
particularly in rural areas are still concerning. It is difficult to assume that the ICT revolution

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Cambodia
will effect men and women equally given the disparity between the genders in all level of theeducation system.
Graph1: Adult Literacy Population aged 15 years and above per Gender andGeography (2008 - 2013)
2008

2013

AREA

Women

Men

Both Sexes

Women

Men

Both Sexes

TOTAL

70.9

85.1

77.6

73.6

86.4

79.7

URBAN

86.8

94.5

90.4

86.8

94.2

90.3

RURAL

66.3

82.5

74.0

69.7

84.1

76.5

Source: Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2013 (CIPS 2013)

The formal sector in Cambodia comprises all jobs with regular hours and wages, andin 2013 according to Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey, 17.9% of women worked inthis sector, whilst 26.1% of men had paid employment. 53% of women classified themselves
as unpaid family worker, compared to 23% of men.
A study on Women and ICT in Education and Employment in 2010 found that lessthan on quarter of Cambodian NGOs, 9% of Higher Education institutes, 14% of Internet
providers and 35% of government ministries have a policy implemented to encourage women
to build their own capacity in the ICT sector. According to MOWA et.al 2010, a similar
percentage of organizations and institutions are willing to design policies to encourage ICT
skills and capacity building for women.
The Cambodian picture of gender in the ICT era is one of inequality. The disparity
between men and women’s ability to learn, access and engage with technology is inherent in
Cambodian society. This is reflected in the formal education system, where completion rates
for young girls at upper secondary school are reported to be as low as 22%. Very few women
are taking up opportunity to gain the economic benefits of ICT by not enrolled in ICT related
university courses. Illiteracy rates are higher for women than men. For those women in theformal employment sector, the knowledge and use of ICT is limited and there a very few
organizational policies that encourage ICT skill development for women.
2.

Cambodian Policies and Laws on ITC
On June 26, 2014, the Royal Government of Cambodia approved the National

Strategic Development plan for 2014 - 2018, a blue print for economic policy. This document

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Cambodia
contains a full section dedicated to ICT and indicates the Governments desire to move
Cambodia to more knowledge based nation. It provides a framework for infrastructure
expansion, policy and regulation development, human resources and skill development.
The Policy document mentions they will foster the principles of gender equality, however itdoes not stipulate how.
At the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Sept.1995- Beijing Declaration
and Platform of Action: Women in media, two strategic objectives were delivered:Strategic objective J1: Increase the participation and access of women to expression anddecision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication.
Actions to be taken.

Strategic objective J2: Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in
the media. Actions to be taken.
In the Concluding Comment of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination

against women, article 38. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
women urges the State party to utilize fully in its implementation of its obligations under theConvention, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which reinforce the provisionsof the Convention, and requests the State party to include information thereon in its next
periodic report. Cambodia is a signatory to this convention, thus must be held accountable forits strategy and report against the actions taken.
Cambodia also has a draft National ICT Policy 2015 that clearly specifies theirsupport for Women in Development in the ICT sector. Within this policy framework, there ismuch support for gender equality, yet there is little evidence on how this is reflected in thereal world.
Unfortunately there are no consistent legal frameworks to govern the industry as awhole. In 2012, the Government established the Telecom Regulator of Cambodia charged
with overseeing the country’s telecom industry. Many laws have been drafted, by not enacted.
As yet, the Telecom Law has not been passed, so in the absence of laws, the sector isgoverned by decrees and sub-decrees issued by the Department and the prime ministers
officer. Specific laws on Cyber-crime and e-Commerce are deemed necessary, however─ 14 ─

Cambodiahave not been adopted. There is also little evidence of the how these laws reflect gendersensitivity and equality.

3.

Best PracticeBest practice involving women and ICT in Cambodia has been the involvement inTake Back the Tech initiative. The Open Institute in cooperation with the Association for
Progressive Communications (APC) and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, have since 2006
been actively involved in this strategy creating awareness of how information andcommunication technologies are connected to violence against women. The program recently
won global acclaim for its efforts to reduce threats online and building women’s confidence
and security in the use of ICT, winning first place in Gender Equality Mainstreaming Technology the ITU-UN awards.
The campaign calls on all ICT users -especially women and girls - to take control oftechnology and use activism against gender-based violence. The project encouraged,
facilitated and strengthened:The use of ICTs to enhance interventions by women's rights organizations to address
different forms of violence against women and girlsThe application of ICTs for work focused on the healing of women victims/survivors ofviolence

The provision of small grants for women victims/survivors of violence to increase
visibility of their issues and enable them to participate in combating VAWEfforts to address new forms of violence against women and girls facilitated through theinternet, mobile phones and other emerging technologies



Advocacy towards better formulation and implementation of rights based ICT policies
that impact on violence against women and girls.
A Facebook account called Cambodia TBTT has been created in Khmer language

and it has over 1,299 friends. The TBTT Twitter account has over 1900 followers. Articles
are regularly posted informing people of issues on the prevention of violence against women─ 15 ─

Cambodiaand giving women the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas regarding human rights
and advocacy.
This advocacy strategy has very attractive campaign materials, with the use ofbanners, stickers, digital stories and icons. It has allowed Open Institute to incorporate thisbranding in most of their events, (over 1000 young people have been involved in training
over the past year) and has attracted significant attention to women using ICT to end violenceagainst women. It was used in International Women’s Day, and will be incorporated into the
16 Day Campaign on 25th November until 10th December 2014 in cooperation with UN
Women Cambodia.
It is a simple strategy that works. Its attractive marketing engages women to get
involved with ITC as a tool for advocacy effectively empowering women and girls throughskills, knowledge, advocacy and community-building.

4.

Issues and Challenges
The growth in influence of ICT has created many issues and challenges for womenin Cambodia, as they struggle to embrace the economic and social advantages of ICT. The
three most significant challenges of the gender digital divide is:1.

the cultural norms of Cambodian society, where women are the most impoverished withthe least access to resources and with little control over decisions that affect their lives;2.

the lack of women with decision making influence; and3.

the emergence of a new avenue for violence against women.
Social norms in Cambodia are a significant challenge for women accessing ICT andenjoying the economic benefit of the sector. In an impoverished country, boys are targetedover girls by families as a priority for education as many young girls drop out of formal
education to support their families in either the caring or financial role. It is a hierarchal
society where men are valued more highly then women and there are persistent gender power
imbalances that lead to poverty, illiteracy and gender discrimination.
In the research conducted by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of
Education, Youth, and Sport and the Open Institute in 2010, some 66% of respondents stated─ 16 ─

Cambodiathat women have to take more responsibility for their family than men; 64% think that mostparents provide more support to men than women for higher education. About 60% think thatpolicies and policy implementation are also obstacles. Other responses include: language(57%), limited ICT infrastructure (53%), cost of internet access (52%), “technology is too
modern” (40%), obstacles erected by social norms and culture (31%) and women are notencouraged by their superiors to participate in ICT (26%).
There is a complex relationship between ICT and violence against women that iswell documented, and often a difficult for policy makers and advocates to grapple with. In
many ways, ICT is a valuable tool in preventing violence against women through advocacy
and empowerment. Women and women’s networks and organizations worldwide are using
online resources, websites and chat rooms to share experiences, mobilize support for specificactions or to develop global action strategies to end violence against women. However, ICT
has also facilitated a new form of violence against women with cyber stalking and online
harassment. This involves mobile text message monitoring, intimate photos and video
blackmail, mobile phone and email account tracking. Traffickers are also using the Internet tocommunicate and recruit victims, and private home videos are also being commercialized.
The growth of the Internet tends to push the limits of a society's attitudes towards acceptable
media images and technology is moving across boundaries faster than the law can address.
This is not a phenomenon unique to Cambodia, and a challenge for society ingeneral. However in Cambodia, with the gender imbalance that is innate in society, together
with the gender divide regarding access to ICT as already discussed, this is a challenge that
advocacy groups, government and Cambodian society as a whole must address.
The third significant challenge for women and ICT in Cambodia is the lack ofwomen in decision-making and power roles in Government. Women represent approximately
14.7% of the senate, and 20.32% of members of parliament 20.32% There are 13.9%
women judges, 10.2% Women Prosecutors and women constitute 22.1% of Court Clerks.
There have been no Provincial Governors and only 14.3% of Deputy Governors in 2013 are
women. These needs to be seen in the light of 52% of the population are women.
Without effective representation of women in decision-making roles, active
engagement in the gender digital divide will remain problematic. Advocacy groups are active

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Cambodia
in building relationships with decision makers, but until they are physically represented, there
will continue to be inequities and inactivity in gender related issues.

5.

Policy Recommendations:

ICT is integrated into lower secondary school to ensure that young girls locked out ofsenior schooling have some level of ICT education.

Stronger commitment of the government, donor agencies and civil society forsupporting consultative meetings for the integration of gender sensitiveness in national
policy and action plans such as National ICT Policy 2015 Neary Ratanak, National
Action Plan to Prevent VAW, National Strategy Development Plan; as well as support
for Women in Development of sectoral ICT Policy.

Stronger commitment of government in nomination more women to take decision maker
post in ICT development sector.

To add “Women in ICT Development” in the Joint Indicator Matrix of Cambodia
Development Council. This will then ensure this as a measurable outcome for theGovernment.

Stronger cooperation between the government and UN Women and with other donor
agencies for the implementation of the UN CEDAW Concluding Observation point 19 c.
about “…to explore the use of ICT for women rights and gender equality.”Stronger commitment of the government and donor countries for the implementation of
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing 2004) about women and media.



Tough laws and regulations must be adopted and enforced to protect vulnerable womenand children from exploitation via ICT. Training and education needs to fund regarding
safe and informative ways to explore the internet and how to avoid on-line dangers.



From learning from the NWEC, more research needs to be conducted around gender andits impact in Cambodian society. A similar model to the NWEC should be established in
Phnom Penh. This could become a central depository for research and development
regarding all issues pertaining to women. It will enable women’s advocacy groups to─ 18 ─

Cambodiameet, discuss and collaborate on gender topics and create a space for open dialogue topromote a gender-equality society.

─ 19 ─

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Ms. Chim Manavy
Ms. Keo Vathna
Cambodia
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

1- Overview of Cambodia• Official name: Kingdom of Cambodia• Official Language: Khmer• Total area: 181,035 km2• 24 Provinces• 1 Capital : Phnom Penh
• Population :14.86 millions• Women : 52%• Density: 75 people/km2 (2008)• GDP : 760$ (2008), approximately 1000$(2012)• Currency Riel (KHR)
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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2

2- Gender Equality Policy
National Frameworks for Gender Equality (I)Constitution of Cambodia: Adopted in 1993
• It states that “men and women have equal rights before the law andenjoy equal participation in political, economic, social and cultural life;
equality in marriage and family; employment and equal pay for the samework. It also includes measures to prevent and eliminate of all forms of
discrimination and exploitation of women”.
National Strategic Development Plan and Rectangular Strategy for Growth,
Employment, Equity and Efficiency, Phase II•

Aim at reducing gender disparities in all development sectors and theneed to put in place effective measures to remove barriers that womenface, and increase opportunities for women to fully participate andbenefit from development.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

3

National Frameworks for Gender Equality (II)Cambodia Millennium Development Goals•

CMDG 3 focuses on promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of
women through reducing gender gaps in education at all levels, increasing
women’s participation in government and ensuring equal wages between men
and women.

The Five-Years Strategic Plan For Gender Equality and Women‘s
Empowerment 2014-2018 (Neary Rattanak IV)•

Strategic areas:•

1. Economic Empowerment of Women•

2. Education of Women and Girls, Attitudes and Behavior change•

3. Legal Protection of Women and Girls•

4. Health and Nutrition of Women and Girls, and HIV/AIDS•

5. Women in Public Decision‐making and Politics•

6. Women in Climate Change and green growth•

7. Women and Disabilities

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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4

National Women’s Machineries•

Ministry of Women’s Affairs•

Cambodian National Council for Women•

Other Mechanisms for Gender Equality•

Gender Action Groups and Gender Action Plans from Line
Ministries•

Women’s and Children’s Committees (at sub-national level)

International Frameworks for Gender Equality
1.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)

2.

Millennium Development Goals for 2015

3.
4.

Conference on Population and Development El Cairo (1994)
Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW, 1979) : Signed and ratified by Cambodia in 1992.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

5

3. Current Situation for Gender Equality in Cambodia• Education

Educational level

Percentage

Primary and Lower Secondary
Upper Secondary Education

Gender parity index achieved
Ratio of girls to boys is 72.9 (CMDG
target is 100)

Tertiary Education​bachelor degree 40.19%
master degrees 19.24%
undertaking a PhD 5.56%[Data from academic year 2011-2012, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport]

Economic sector

Women presenting in formal sector

27 % (men: 73%)

Women presenting in informal sector

82 %[Data from CSES 2009]
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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6

National level

Politics and Decision Making

Parliamentarians in
National Assembly
Senators
Deputy Prime Ministers
Ministers
Secretaries of State
Public Civil Servants

25 of 123

20.32%

9 of 61
1 of 93 of 28
38 of 185
70,526 of 192,029

14.75%
11%
10.71%
20.54%
37%

Politics and Decision Making

Subnational level

Provincial Governors
Provincial Deputy Governors
District Governors
District Deputy Governors:
Commune Council members
Commune/Sangkat Chiefs

no women20%
1 %(2 female district governors)
29 %17.78%
5.8%

Data from the National Elections Committee 2012
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

7• Health
median age at first marriage among
womenMedian age of first sexual intercourse
for womenmaternal deaths

20 years ( men: 23 years)

women report having one or more
problems in accessing health care72%

women aged 15-49 years using amethod of family planning

31%

women aged 15-49 years having
abortion

at least 1 abortion of 6 % women inurban areas, while 5 % in rural areas

21 years old ( while for men is 22 years)
206 per 100,000 live births in 2010 (ratedecreased almost 60 percent in only five
years, between 2005 and 2010 [DHS2005 and 2010]).

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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8

4. Overview of ICTs: Media and Gender in the country• 4.1: Women in Media:• The Women´s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC 2005)
survey found that women are a minority across all media
sectors, comprising 17% of those in journalism, 21% intechnical roles and in 28% in administrative positions.
• No statistics are available from the Ministry of Information(MoI) on the number of female journalists in Cambodia,
according to WMC. However, the WMC 2005 survey
covered 145 media organizations and reported the total
number of people working in media and media related
fields as 4,623 with 79% males (3,652) and 21% females(971). among 137 journalists whose positions were decision
makers only 6% were female.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• 4.2: Women in ICT :Women and ICT status in Cambodia
The lack of access to ICT because of societal, cultural and market constraints
have led women to become distant from the global pool of information andknowledge.
Reasons for less representation of women holding jobs in ICT fields include
lower percentage of female student's enrollment in IT related education.
• 4.3 ICT Policy
The National Summit on ICT Policy and Strategy took place on 3 July 2003 to
involve key actors to determine a draft of National ICT Policy.
NIDA proposal for National ICT Policy for 2015 included the creation of legal
framework, ICT services, to develop a knowledge based system, ICT accesspoints, reduce public administration cost, ICT4D that support Women In
Development (WID) in the ICT sector.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 24 ─

10

4.Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)

11

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:

Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Sept.1995- Beijing
Declaration and Platform of Action: Women in media

Strategic objective J1: Increase the participation and access of
women to expression and decision-making in and through themedia and new technologies of communication. Actions to betaken.
Strategic objective J2:Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped
portrayal of women in the media. Actions to be taken.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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12

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• 56th UN CEDAW session in Geneva from 30 Sept-18 Oct, 2013

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

13

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• Concluding Observation of the Committee on the Elimination ofDiscrimination against women ( CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/4-5 A , Geneva 18
October 2013 )NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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14

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• Gender and ICT4D-Concluding Observation of the Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination against women( CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/4-5 A , Geneva 18 October 2013 )• Article 19. The Committee reiterates its previous
recommendation (CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/3, para. 18) andrecommends that the State party:• (c) Explore the use of information communication
technologies, including social media, in the dissemination of
information on women’s rights and gender equality;
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

15

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• Women & ICT in Education (MoWA Research 2010)
The total of female who get the bachelor degree of ICT in thelast four years'2005 to 2009' was 12.4% of total student in ICT if
comparing with 8.4% of the proportional of female students
who has been studying ICT of the 1st year to the 4th year of theyear 2009-2010 .
• Women & ICT in Employment
Women & ICT in The proportional of women in ICT' jobs:• The percentage of women can use ICT in civil society is
44.4% of total staff• In government and ministries is 15.5%,• Internet Provider is 32.5% and Education institution is 33.3%.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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16

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)

Result of the Research (MoWA 2010).
Only less than 1/4 of NGOs (22.5%), 9% of HE institutes, 14% of
ISPs and 35% of government ministries have a policy
implemented to encourage women to build their own capacity
in the ICT sector.
This status will not have much changed in the near future
because for the rest of them, there are only 23% of NGOs, 41%of government ministries, 21% of ISPs 21%, and 21% HE
institutes are willing to design a policy to encourage ICT skills &capacity building for women (MOWA et.al 2010).
17

Consultative meetings of NGOs to promote theintegration of Gender Perspective in ICT Policy
Development.

18

─ 28 ─

5. Case Analysis:• Story Telling 1

Ms. Chea Sipheng, Second Assistant of Chiefof Kor Ki Sangkat, Phnom Penh had
commitment to learn how citizen journalist
and ICT were interested in her work.

She initially engaged political activists of
Human Rights to help people to solve
problems so it made her more popular inpolitics until she became the Second
Assistant to the Chief Commune. During
the election she was battled by many
men’s advocacy efforts, but she still
received her position as intended. She
was delighted that Open Instituteprovides the opportunity to attend
training and added that she was notaware of media practices and did notknow how to write news any way until
she received the appropriate training.

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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5. Case Analysis: (Cont.)• Story Telling 2

1. Miss. Keang Hy, became a strong
facilitator in a youth club

My name is Keang Hy, 26 years
old; I live in house number 20D,
Street Veng Sreng, Sangkat Choam
Chao, Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh.
After I got involved with Open
Institute, “it made me got wellcommunication with the other,
improve and building my ability,
participate in helping social, could
sharing information through theuse Facebook and email, knew
aboutsocialaccountability
meaning…”. I have become afacilitator at in National Youth
Senate’s KYSD.

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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20

6. Best practices:
Take Back The Techmodel to use ICT
for discussion anddissemination of
informationon
women right andeVAWMedia monitoringfor ending VAW

The Integration of gender sensitive in the draft of National ICT Policy 2015.
Integration of the promotion of the use of ICT and media in Neary Ratanak
and National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women (NAPVAW).
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

21

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region22─ 30 ─NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region23

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in accessto ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• 7.1. The challenges of women in ICT4 development:
Family responsibility such as take care husband, children, elderly person infamily (66%).
Female get less opportunities than male in getting chance to study more
(64%).
State policy and sectoral implementation (60%), Language (57%).
Infrastructure (53%), High cost of Internet (52%)• 7.2.Challenging: VAW&ICT:
However, Women are concerned about the new form of VAW:
Some groups of people have been using ICTs for other purpose that against
women rights. Negative portrayal of women.
The growth of Internet tends to push the limits of a society's attitudes
towards acceptable media images.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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24

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in accessto ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• 7.2. Challenging: VAW&ICT: (cont.)
Technology is moving across boundaries faster than the law can address. Thisis a blurred line between freedom of information and cultural preservation• 7.3. Government Policy
Since 2005 the Ministry of Information has set some rules for all media
organizations advising and reminding them to respect the press law Chapter
2, Article 7 that states “Publication of obscene texts or pictures or graphicallyviolent materials is prohibited.”
During the Annual Cambodian National Council for Women Meeting (NWC) in2007, the Prime Minister recommended that the Ministry of Interior close
facilities which show or sell obscene films.
Advocacy for improving the portrayal of women in themedia should be
stepped up and continued, as there is still much progress to be madeNWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region25

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations• Stronger commitment of the government, donor agencies
and civil society for supporting consultative meetings for the
integration of gender sensitiveness in National ICT Policy
2015 and beyond; as well as support for the development ofsectoral ICT Policy.
• Stronger commitment of government in nomination more
women to take decision maker post in ICT development
sector.
• Stronger commitment of the government and donor support
for the integration of women in ICT development in national
policy and action plan such as Neary Ratanak, National Action
Plan to Prevent VAW, National Strategy Development Plan.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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26

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations• To add “ women in ICT development” in Joint Indicator Matrixof Cambodia Development Council.
• Stronger cooperation between the government and UN
Women and with other donor agencies for the
implementation of the UN CEDAW Concluding Observation
point 19 c. about “…to explore the use of ICT for womenrights and gender equality.”• Stronger commitment of the government and donor
countries for the implementation of Beijing Declaration andPlatform for Action (Beijing 2004) about Women and Media.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

27

Thank you!

28

─ 33 ─

India

Chapter 3 Report from India
1.

Introduction:
As the seventh largest country with a population of 1.2 billion, India is a land ofcontradiction; while on one hand fewer girl children thrive, as compared to their malecounterparts (Sex ratio of 940 women for every 1000 men, and even lower child sex ratio of
914 girls children per 1000 male children), on the other life expectancy for women is morethan men (women=62.7 years; men = 61 years)1. On one hand India is increasingly seen as an
economic force to reckon with, on the other girls/women still face discrimination in theiraccess to education (female literacy= 65.5%; male literacy= 82.1%) and participation in
workforce, as only approximately 24% of women are included in workforce. Although as per
constitutional amendment (2010), women’s representation is stipulated in parliament andstate assemblies, only for 11% of the total representatives in upper and lower houses ofParliament are women.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector’s contribution to the nation’s
GDP has shown an increase of 4.1% from 2001 to 2012. The benefits of the IT boom
however are unevenly distributed among men and women. The situation of women in
ICT-sector employment in India mirrors the trends at the global level, where women havebeen found to account for, “30 per cent of operations technicians, only 15 per cent ofmanagers and a mere 11 per cent of strategy and planning professionals”2
While overall penetration of telephones quite high, the distribution is skewed. It is tobe noted that while 68.8% of Indians live in rural areas, the reach and use of ICT favours
urban locations and men in particular3. A mere 30% of the 893.3 million mobile subscribers
are women, another 20% are “borrowers” of mobile through family and of the 238.7 million

1

Census of India 2011
Tandon, N. (2012) 'A Bright Future in ICTs: Opportunities for a New Generation of Women'. Information
Telecommunication Union Girls in ICT, Retrieved:
http://girlsinict.org/sites/default/files/pages/itu_bright_future_for_women_in_ict-english.pdf 4
October 20143
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, 2010 http://www.trai.gov.in accessed August 1, 20142

─ 34 ─

India
4internet subscribers a meager 10% are women . The disparity in ‘connectivity’ accessible
to Indians is unequal, which can be said to be a reflection of need for infrastructuredevelopment and shifting priorities. Overall the International Telecommunications Union, in
its 'Measuring the Information Society' Report of 2013, places India in the category of theWorld's 'Least Connected Countries' based on a composite measure of ICT access, ICT use
and ICT skills.
2.

Media and Gender
The Census of India, 2011 reveals that 47.2% households have and use televisionsets, only 19.9% use radios. Thus television is preferred source of information for most.
The Indian print media currently include over 69,323 registered newspapers and periodicals,
according to the latest figures on the website of the Registrar of Newspapers for India(updated up to 31 March 20085). The total circulation of newspapers in 2007-08 was over
200 million copies (207,108,115). Indian publications appear in as many as 101 languages
and dialects. There are over 500 registered television channels in India (503, according to theJanuary-March 2010 quarterly report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India6 . At
least 100 more are reportedly awaiting permission to uplink or downlink. As mentioned
earlier, radio news is still restricted to the state/public broadcaster, All India Radio, since thegovernment does not permit other radio service providers – private or community based – tobroadcast news and current affairs. The growing private FM radio sector is at present almost
exclusively devoted to entertainment (largely popular music) and community radio is still in
the process of establishing itself in the media environment.
A comparative analysis of portrayal of women in media across 15 countries
including India found that in India on any given day, women constitute only 22% of the news
subjects across all topic categories. Women featured in only 18% of the subjects in politicalstories and an abysmally low 10% in stories relating to the economy. Whereas just five
percent of news stories highlighted gender equality/inequality related stories. Nearly two
4

5
6

GSMA Development Fund and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. (2010). Women and Mobile—A
Global Opportunity: A Study on the mobile phone gender gap in low and middle-income countries.
London: GSMA.
Website of the Registrar of Newspapers for India: http://rni.nic.in/
Website of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: http://www.trai.gov.in/ accessed June 10, 2014

─ 35 ─

India

thirds (63 per cent) of the news stories from the Indian media reinforced gender stereotypes
while only nine per cent challenged them. In contrast, globally less than half (46 per cent) of
the news stories reinforced stereotypes. Men vastly outnumbered women among reporters
across all media and all news topics.
Less than half the presenters and announcers on Indian radio and television were
women. About a third (34 per cent) of the news stories in the print media and less than half
(43 per cent) of the stories on TV were reported by women. Similarly, several popular
television programs and television advertisements reinforce stereotypical gender roles for
women. For example women are often portrayed as being “Naari” (faithful, obedient,
non-assertive woman), the virtue of being “fair” is over emphasized in numerous
advertisements. Compared to men, women appear more often for household products andpersonal or beauty products and were less likely to be shown as being employed than men.7
With the increasing access to internet, women have greater opportunity to connect tothe global world, learn about opportunities, socialize with others, using social media such as
Facebook, Twitter etc. However, this has also led to increased vulnerability of women to be
victims of cyber violence against women have been reported in media in the form of cyberstalking, phishing, issuing threats of violence and revenge porno etc. Cybercrime against
women in India is relatively a new concept. There are yet no reliable estimates of rates ofcybercrimes against women, as fewer women report such crimes, as most of the cybercrimes
remain unreported due to the hesitation and shyness of the victim and her fear of defamationof family’s name. Many times she believes that she herself is responsible for the crime doneto her. The women are more susceptible to the danger of cybercrime as the perpetrator’s
identity remains anonymous and he may constantly threaten and blackmail the victim withdifferent names and identities. Historically, when India started ventured in the field ofInformation Technology, the primary security concern addressed under the Information
Technology Act, 2000 was the protection of electronic commerce (e-commerce) andcommunications, whereas cyber socializing communications and related human rights
violations haven’t been addressed.8

7

Who Makes the News : India Global Media Monitoring Project-National Report. 2010).

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India

3.

Policies and Laws on ICTs
The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution of India. National

Commission of Women was set-up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 and a further amendment
led to their increased participation in decision making at various levels. Taking a step further
India has ratified the CEDAW in 1993.
The National Commission for Empowerment of Women was set up in 2010 with thefollowing objectives in mind:-

To eliminate violence against women (VAW)-

Social empowerment of women with emphasis on health and education-

Gender mainstreaming of policies and programs-

Create awareness amongst beneficiaries-

Work on advocacy
The current 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) includes a Working Group on

Information Technology Sector which has identified e-learning, ICT skill development,
development of rural connectivity infrastructure, development of local language content,
ICT-enabled health services and financial inclusion through ICT technology as key elements
for utilizing the ICT potential for social inclusion.
Although India does not have a comprehensive ICT policy, ICT is well ensconced in
the various initiatives undertaken across ministries as well as by many Non-government
Organizations; these have been either as Public Private Partnerships (PPP) or standalone
initiatives. Successful examples of which are seen in the sectors of health, governance,
education etc.

8Jeet, S., (2012). Cyber crimes against women in India Information Technology Act, 2000. Elixir Criminal
Law, 48, pp. 8891-8895.

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India

Laws on ICTs
The legal provisions which are presently available to challenge acts of violence are“strongly influenced by existing laws on indecency and obscenity, ill-defined as they are”.
These include the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, and Section 67 A
and Section 67 B of the Information Technology Act that deal with cyber-pornography andchild pornography respectively. Additionally, Section 66 A of the Information Technology
Act provides for punishment for communication made via computer or other devices which
may be “grossly offensive,” have a “menacing character,” or even cause “annoyance orinconvenience”.

4.

Best Practices
India has acknowledged the potential of ICTs in development and has initiated many

programs that use ICT to leverage access and usage of services. These programs fall largely
under the areas of health, e-governance, education and economic empowerment. A few
examples are cited in the following sections:4.1. E-governance:
The National E-governance Plan (NeGP), through its 31 Mission Mode Projects,
aims at developing a country-wide infrastructure reaching to the remotest village, forfacilitating single-window, one-stop, public service delivery to all citizens and the large scale
digitization of records, to enable easy interaction between citizens and government, over theInternet. The connectivity infrastructure envisioned by the NeGP consists of a country-wide
network of ICT enabled kiosks called the 'Common Service Centers' under which
ICT-enabled single window service delivery centers are proposed to be set up in every Gram
Panchayat (the smallest unit of local governance in India) of the country through a public
private partnership model involving various kinds of partnership agreements between village
level entrepreneurs, private companies and government agencies; as well as ElectronicService Delivery Gateways9 and State-Wide Area Networks. This connectivity infrastructureis envisioned as a platform for digitized public service delivery, the back-end for which is9

See https://nsdg.gov.in/administration/aboutus.jsp for details.

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India

expected to be a readied by a range of Central, State-Led and Integrated Mission Mode
Projects10.
With the efforts of the Department of Information and Technology, Government ofIndia the following initiatives have been rolled out under the NeGP:a) The Launch of Mobile Seva: An Unique Country-wide initiative to provide
public services to citizens through mobile phones and hand-held devices,
through which 200 different services of 444 departments have been offered.
b)

Pilot project covering 59 panchayats in three blocks in three states on using the
hi-speed connectivity of National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) for delivery of
public servicesc)

The launch of the 'Open Government Platform' developed in collaboration with
the United States, intended to enhance access and use of government data forinnovation; government transparency, accountability and public participation.

d)

The launch of 'Data Portal India' to function as a single access point for open
government data sets across the country in multiple topics.

The CSC schemes have been used as a means to address women’s empowerment,
where women are encouraged to operate the CSC kiosks. For example, in the state of Kerala,
the CSC scheme, is operated by women who are Village Level Entrepreneurs to run the
single window service delivery centers.

While studies have found that this model ofintegrating gender in e-governance has significant gains for the women entrepreneurs, it
could not address issues of gender barriers to access CSCs.
Another model to overcome the barriers aforementioned, was overcome in an
innovative model of integrating gender in CSCs is in Delhi. In this model,agovernment-NGO-community partnership model was tested, wherein the State Governmentof Delhi, local NGOs with grassroots presence and urban slum communities focuses on

10

Prime Minister's Office (2013),PM Reviews National e-governance Plan, Retrieved:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96938 13 April 2014 ;and http://ogpl.gov.in/;

http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2014/feb/20/india-launches-improved-open-government-pla
tform/ on 2nd August 2014

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India

targeted service delivery through a network of pre-existing gender resource centers managed
by the NGOs on the ground. The rationale guiding the project was that the NGOs operating
the Gender Resource Centers were already sensitive to the local context, aware of genderbarriers and needs to overcome these and therefore were more invested in addressing
community needs. The choice of these gender resources centers ensured smooth processingof information requests and entitlement claims and enables women to access CSCs.11

4.2.

ICT- in Health:
Although the economic prowess of India is growing consistently, still India’sranking is among the bottom five countries, with the lowest public health spending world
over, accounting for nearly 21% of the global disease burden. A World Bank reportpublished in 2010 estimates that India is annually losing over 6% of its Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) due to the premature deaths and preventable illnesses. Indian healthcare
sector is still suffering on account of underfunding and poor governance, which have led to
substantial inequities in basic healthcare provisions. Following women centered innovations
and interventions are just a few that have been planned both by Government and its partners
to improve the health parameters of women.
4.2.a. Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS): Mother and Child Tracking System(MCTS) is a name based tracking system, launched by the Government of India in 2009as an innovative application of information technology directed towards improving thehealth care service delivery system and strengthening the monitoring mechanism for
women’s health. MCTS is designed to capture information on and track all pregnant
women and children (0-5 Years) so that they receive ‘full’ maternal and child healthservices and thereby contributes to the reduction in maternal, infant and child morbidity
and mortality.
A total of 2,18,22,364 pregnant women have been registered in MCTS during
2013-2014 (as on 11th June, 2014) which indicates a registration of 73 % as against
11

Gurumurthy, A., & Chami N. April 2014- Digital Technologies and Gender Justice in India- An analysis
of key policy and programming concerns Input to the High Level Committee on the Status of Women inIndia─ 40 ─

India

estimated number of pregnant women in 2013-2014. A total of 1,80,67,874 children havebeen registered in MCTS during 2013-2014 as on 11th June, 2014, which indicates aregistration of 67% as against estimated number of infants in 2013-2014.
The MCTS software sends reminders to the Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs) or
ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) on the various treatments to be availed by the
expecting mothers having mobile phones. Once a mother receives her immunization, ANMs
have to send the details to the MCTS service through an SMS. After the enrolment, every
expectant mother receives SMS regarding their next immunization and checkup dates. It isabsolute essential that all ANMs start upload the service delivery data in near real-time. In
order to facilitate this near real-time data updation by ANMs “Unstructured Supplementary
Service Data (USSD)” based service has been enabled for MCTS data updation .
4.2.b. Mobile Kunji : Mobile Kunji is a unique model AV job aid designed for the Frontline
Health Workers (FLHWs). Forty phone –sized card are illustrated with key messages onfamily health, family planning, pregnancy, post-natal care and childcare up to two yearsof age. The number of cards is flexible and can vary with the State’s specific healthneeds. Each of these messages is accessible by a unique toll free seven digit mobile codethat can be dialed directly by the FLHW from her mobile to share the information withthe beneficiary. It can be carried at all times and does not need a smart phone to accessthis service, thus making this a low end technology for high-end gains project. This
project is run as a partnership between State Government, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) and BBC Media Action. Since its inception in 2012, 89171 users
have accessed 21,32,420 minutes of information on the mobile phone. Under the
program, 200.000 FLHWs have been trained use of this mobile application. It iscurrently running in large parts of three states of India. Government may plan toscale-up this intervention in the coming year if the intervention shows positive results.
4.2.c. Mobile Academy:

Mobile Academy is an innovation to use mobile technology thatis handset independent; audio based, accessed via a simple voice call and helps to train
FLHWs to deliver life-saving information to beneficiaries. It is a highly subsidized, but
paid initiative that costs FLHWs a mere Rs 100 (¥200 approx) for the entire training. It
is an IVR based programme providing voice lectures and quizzes over 190 minutes forknowledge enhancement of the FLHWs. The training broadly covers topics on: maternal

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India

health, family planning, child health, immunization to name a few. On successful
completion of the training, FLHWs take a tele-exam and are awarded a ‘Certificate’ by
senior government officials, which go a long way to improve their self-esteem andposition in their community. To date more than 39,000 workers are trained and havereceived certificates under this program.

5.

Issues and Challenges:
ICTs have been acknowledged as potent tools for development, but there are

multiple challenges to successfully use ICTs for gender and development. These issues andchallenges range broadly from contextual factors like unequal gender-norms that hinder
women’s access and control of ICTs that make it difficult for ICTs to be maximize its reachand effectiveness, to policy level issues like absence of comprehensive policies to makeprovisions of infrastructure development to facilitate penetration of ICTs. Some specificissues and challenges are pointed below:Lack of a clear National Policy for promoting ICT for development of women.



Setting up and maintenance costs of ICT structures are major deterrents in its
nation-wide expansion

Poor ICT infrastructure: given the magnitude of need for ICT, adequate
infrastructure in form of availability of computer systems, affordable internet, andlow bandwidth are not available.



Lack of trained personnel to manage and use ICT in terms of numbers and quality



Lack of basic infrastructure like electricity, telephone lines etc.



Poor female literacy, combined with poverty, skewed gender roles makes access to
ICTs a major stumbling block for women

Women are perceived as mere ‘consumers’ of ICT rather than producers or decisions
makers in ICT sector

Being a patriarchal society decisions and access regarding women’s participation in
ICT initiatives are often controlled by the ‘others’ in their family.

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India

6.

Policy Recommendations:
While the need for a comprehensive ICT policy foregrounds all ICT interventions,

keeping women and gender issues central across all ICT based development programs needs
to be underscored in all policy and programs using ICTs.
Government to frame a national ICT Policy with special focus on inclusion of
women as active agents of change.



Review existing ICT related laws from a gender perspective to ensure protection of
women, as well as safe guard their interests and rights.



Policy measures to outline guidelines for data sharing, storage, access andconfidentiality in various ICT and development interventions.



Government to advocate proportionate representation of women at all levels in ICT
sector aiming at increase in uptake of ICT-related education and employment.



Government to felicitate successful women-led ICT initiatives on a National/Statelevel to inspire more women-led entrepreneurial innovations.



Government in collaboration with women’s groups to develop gender sensitive
content for ICT initiatives in various ministries/departments

All ICT interventions to be made available in the vernacular languages to increase
access and use.



Government to formulate policy to carry out continuous media surveillance tomonitor harmful effects of stereotyping of women.
ICTs have tremendous potential to strengthen women’s political and social identity

and stimulate far-reaching ICTs-induced structural transformations. The responsibility andopportunity to exploit the potential of ICT and gender, rests equally with governments andpolicy makers of the country by making gender inclusive policies and with existing national
women’s machineries and women’s groups to acquaint themselves with digital environs andensure that ICTs do not become ‘tokenistic’ but are transformative to lives of women.

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FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Dr Zoya Ali Rizvi ＆Dr Priti Prabhughate
India

1. Country Profile• Is the 7th largest country
in the world• 2nd most populous• Has an area of 3,287,263
sq km• Has 29 states and 7 union
territories• Fourth largest reserve ofcoal in the world, iron ore,manganese etc• 48.8% of the land isarable• Indus Valley Civilization
the first major Indian
civilization existed from3000 to 1300 BC• The name 'India' isderived from the RiverIndus
2

─ 44 ─

Gender in Context• India is a predominant patriarchal society with hegemonic
norms around gender roles, socialization of men andwomen and rigid expectations from each gender.
• India has in recent years witnessed rapid economic growthwith concomitant rise in urbanization and shifts in values
and norms relating to marriage, relationship and women's
status in particular.
• Yet we contradictory trends.
For eg Khap Panchyat

3

Country Profile contd

India is home to 1210 million people; of which women are approx
587 million

Source: www. censusindia.gov.in/4

─ 45 ─

2. Gender Equality Policy• Creating a suitable environment for women through positive
economic and social policies .
• The de-facto enjoyment by women of all human rights andfundamental freedom in all spheres – political, economic, social,
cultural and civil• Equal access to participation and decision making• Equal access for women to health care, education, career andvocational guidance, employment, social security and public officeetc.
• Strengthening legal systems -elimination of all forms of
discrimination and violence against women and girl child• Changing societal attitudes and community practices• Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process• Building and strengthening partnerships within civil society
5

3.Current Situation of Gender Equality in the county• India is home to more than 1.2 billion people (women make up
almost a half (48.4%)• Life expectancy for women is 62.7 yr as compared to 61yr inmen• Literacy Rate for women is 65.5% while for men it is 82.1%• The Gross Enrolment Rate for Sec and Higher Sec School is
41.4%• In 2009-10 Universities had 41.4% students as girls• Women make up 25-30% of the workforce in the rural and 1518% in the urban settings.
• Representation of women in Village Panchayats is 37%• India ranked 111th with 62 women parliamentarians sitting in
the Lok Sabha, a small 11.4 per cent of the total 545 MPs**
6

Source: www. censusindia.gov.in/─ 46 ─

4. Overview of ICTs・Media and Gender in the country
Developments in Communication Technologies
Reduced Geographical Barriers

Enormously enhanced the capacity toaccumulate and access information

Media becomes indispensible in our lives
BUT
THIS IS UNEQUAL ;WITH BIAS TOWARDS WOMEN• Lack of women in media/ ICT administrative posts• Lack of women in technical development and decision making areas• Very few women as producers of information or networking resources
Very reduced possibilities of orienting
technology to address their specific needs

7

Overview contd• ICT industry has contributed to India’s economic growth
ICT sector’s contribution to India’s GDP grew from 3.4 % in
2000–01 to 5.9% percent in 2007–2008• Number of phone users in India is high
63.2% of homes have a telephone and 53.2% have a mobile phone.
• Disparity in access to computers and internet (urban and rural)
Just 6.3% of households owned a computer without Internet
connections.
3.1% of households had a computer and Internet access.
8.7% of urban households own computers with Internet accesscomparedwith just 0.7% of rural households.
• Media (usage of print/television/radio)
47.2% households ーtelevision sets, only 19.9% use radios• Television is preferred source of information for most8

─ 47 ─

• Recent survey by GSMA Development Fund and the Cherie
Blair Foundation for Women provides a gendered
breakdown of mobile phones users and owners in India(GSMA and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (2010)• Only 28 percent of women own a mobile phone compared
to 40 percent of men.
• Another 20 percent of females were found to be“borrowers” of mobile phones through family or friends.
• Access and use among women still favors those with higher
education and income levels, as well as those who live inurban areas.

9

Urban-rural Disparity In Access To ICTdata

10─ 48 ─ICTs, Gender and Development• E-governancefocus on establishing one-stop-shop for people to accessgovernment schemes/documents/certificate, file complaints
etc.
• Economic empowerment
ICT as an industry and as a tool
• Health
ICTs used to remind women of vaccination schedules,
disseminate information on health• ICT for women’s safety
very recently, new mobile apps have been launched for safetyof women11

5. Case Analysis
Mobile Kunji•An AV job aid designed for front-line health workers (FLHWs).
•The 40 phone-sized cards are illustrated with key messages on family
health and planning, pregnancy and postnatal care for children up to two
years of age.
•Each card has a unique seven-digit mobile short code that can be dialledon the FLHW’s mobile phone.
•Partnership between a State government, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) and BBC Media Action (India).
•89,171 users have accessed 21, 32,420 minutes of information since thestart in 2012.
•200,000 health workers have been trained on the mobile application•Enhanced interpersonal communication has resulted to improve thequality of home visits (plan to scale up by 2015)12

─ 49 ─

5. Case Analysis contd
Kilkari•Phone call to registered mothers as a family timeline service•Automated IVR calls sent as a pre-recorded call made to the registeredphone of families who have subscribed to it.
•Provides time sensitive information related to pregnancy, child birth andchild care.
•Used as a pilot in a state in India
Mobile Academy•Place to train FLHW to deliver life saving information to millions offamilies•IVR based Certificate programme providing voice lectures and quizzes
over 190 minutes for knowledge enhancement•More than 39,000 workers trained till now•Being piloted

13

6. Best Practices : to enhance inclusion of womenand girls in information society (by MoHFW, India)
I. Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS)•Captures information on and track all pregnant women and children (0-5Years) so that they receive ‘full’ MCH Services•2,18,22,364 pregnant women and 1,80,67,874 children were registered in
MCTS during 2013-2014 as on June, 2014(73 % & 67% against estimatednumber)•ANMs upload this service delivery data in near real-time
II. Health Management Information System (HMIS)•To monitor and evaluate the impact of the various health programmes andinterventions being run in all states.
•Capture facility-level statistics/details on health indicators and health facilities
for M&E of the impact of initiatives under NHM•Has analytical and reporting capabilities soon to be along with GIS Integration•Gender/ age wise data can be enumerated for planning purposes.
14

─ 50 ─

30,000,000

No of

25,000,000

Registered…

20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000

DATA USE FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN’S INSTITUTIONAL
DELIVERY

5,000,000
0

70.0
60.0

DATA USE FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN TO TRACK THEIR
ANCs

50.0

58.961.160.358.9
54.3
49.8

40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0

% of
Institutional Deliveries

0.0

15

ICT: Media and gender-India• Portrayal of women in news (Global Media Monitoring Project,
2010)
In India women constitute only 22% of the news subjects across all
topic categories.
In India women account for only 18% of the subjects in politicalstories and an abysmally low 10% in stories relating to the economy.
Only 5% of the news stories highlighted gender equality /inequality.
• Portrayal of women in television ads and programs.
sexist images combined with ideal 'Naari' -dedication to husband andfamily and children
Women and girls are expected to perform equally well with men in
the office and work spaces and yet continue to excel in their ideal
woman's role that looks after the children, husbands and families.

16

─ 51 ─

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in access to
ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• Lack of a clear National policy for promoting ICT for women’sdevelopment.
• Poor ICT infrastructure, lack of electricity in many remote,far-flung areas, and frequent power cuts.
• Poor literacy among women and inadequate computer skills• Unaffordable costs of computer hardware and software,
maintenance and connectivity.
• Little awareness of the full range of opportunities offered by
ICT other than access to information• Limited online information in vernacular languages.

17

Obstacles contd• Women seen merely as consumers of media and ICTs
• Market driven motives• New gender norms to be created and supported bygreater engagement of men and boys.
• Inefficient telephone services along with absence offavourable bandwidth and connectivity for smooth
operation• Financial powers do not wrest with women usually
nor can she decide for herself.

18

─ 52 ─Conclusion & Policy Recommendations• ICT can influence changes and restructure the prevailing power
equations both in and out of family.
• Government of India is running schemes in the various ministries toempower women and girls by providing them trainings in the field oftechnology and supporting them through their ventures.
• Computer labs are set up in senior secondary schools and colleges toprovide free IT education to girls.
• Schemes provide subsidized or free trainings to girls and even provide
financial incentives for completion of course and establish them withlow or no interest loans from cooperative societies and banks.

19

Conclusion & Policy Recommendations•Creating an enabling environment for women to support andencourage strategies which promote equal access to andopportunity to benefit from ICT projects•Developing content which speaks to women’s concerns andreflects their local knowledge, and is of value in their daily lives,
business enterprises, or family responsibilities•Promoting increased employment and representation in the IT
sector for women and the use of ICTs for women’s SMEs
•Institution of scholarships and awards, with incentives, topromote the enrolment of girls and women in ICT programmes.

20

─ 53 ─Conclusion & Policy Recommendations
For social development and gender equality changes must takeplace in a context which consists of following components:•Implementing e-governance strategies which are accessible towomen; and promoting women’s lobbying and advocacy
activities.
•Need for continuous surveillance of media to monitor harmful
effects of stereotypical portrayal of women•Programs and policies need to critically examine whether …
Use of ICT to empowerment seeks to serve ‘market needs’ of
consumption or
Are ICT and media used to reinforce gender stereotypes of
Are ICT and media are transforming and challenging gender
norms
21

THANK YOU22

─ 54 ─

Philippines

Chapter 4 Report from the Philippines
1.

Introduction: Country Profile of Gender and ICTWith a population of more than 92 million,1 the Philippines is the second mostpopulated country in Southeast Asia, the 7th in Asia, and the 12thin the world. There is almost
parity of sex ratio – men at 51% and women at 49%. Life expectancy at birth is higher for
women at 73.1 years compared to 67.6 years for men. The Philippines has a basic literacy
rate of 96.1 % for women and 95.1 % for men. Women have a 49.7 percent labor
participation rate compared to men’s 78.3%. Women occupy 18.4% of elective posts in the
country.2 It has had two women Presidents and at present has a woman Chief Justice of theSupreme Court. In 2013, the Philippines ranked 114 in the Human Development Index.
The last few years has seen the development of technology. Information andcommunications technology (ICT) have started to play a big role in many countries,
including the Philippines. The proliferation of ICTs is transforming various aspects of ourlives, including our culture, and Filipinos have adapted and embraced its various uses.
The telephone has changed the way people communicate, but with the advent ofmobile phones, more Filipinos found a better way of communicating. According to thePhilippines’ National Telecommunications Office, telephone subscription grew by 8.4 percent in 2006 compared to 33.6 per cent in cellular phone subscription. Today, more than 100
million Filipinos have access to mobile phones.3 Ten per cent of global short messaging
system (SMS) traffic is from the Philippines, with the average Filipino sending about 600
text messages in a month, according to studies conducted by various agencies.4It is nowonder therefore that the Philippines is called the texting capital of the world. Recently, thePhilippines has also been tagged as the “selfie” capital of the world, because of the volume ofselfies being shared by Filipinos.

Per 2010 population census. In NSCB Fact Sheet in
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/gender/FS%20on%20WAM%2018mar2013.pdf
2 NSCB Fact Sheet, 2013
3 2012 State of Broadband
4 2009researches conducted by Reuters, Portio research, NY Times, CTIA.org
1─ 55 ─

Philippines
When the Internet was introduced in the Philippines in 1994, there were only about
4,000 users.5This has steadily grown and by the year 2000, some 2 million Filipinos weresaid to have accessed the Internet.6 This figure grew to 7.8 million by 2005,7 and today, theInformation and Communications Office (ICTO) reports that 35 per cent of the population or
about 33 million Filipinos have access to the Internet.8 Latest figures from the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) show that Internet penetration has reached 41% or roughly
44,000,000.9Although a large portion of the population has not yet accessed the Internet,
those who do, use the Internet in their work, in school, to do research, and to communicate
with other people.
The Philippines is in the top 20 countries with the highest number of Internet users
in the world. According to the 2013 South East Asia (SEA) Digital Future in Focus, thePhilippines has the highest social network access among SEA countries.10 The top social
network preferred by the Filipinos is Facebook (FB), with 92 per cent of the social network
users having an FB account. This is followed by Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. The same
study also said that males spend more time online, although when it comes to using social
networks, the women are more active.
Young people are the biggest consumers of ICTs. According to a study by comScore
in 2013, 71% of the online population in the Philippines falls under the age group 15-34
years old. 11 Data from the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) survey
corroborate the comScore study. According to the YAFS survey, 6 in 10 young people aged
15-24 years old are regular internet users, and that more than half have social network andemail account, and 78 percent have mobile phones.12 On the average, they spend 6 hours a

In www.itu.int
Ibid7 CI Almanac
8 Statement of DOST Undersecretary Louis Casambre on internet penetration in the Philippines.
In http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/02/02/903770/internet-penetration-rises-35
9 http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm
10 In comScore.com
11 comScore Media Users, March 2013.
12 Findings are based on a national survey of about 17,000 young adults for the 2013
Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality survey conducted by the University of thePhilippines Population Institute.
5
6

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Philippines
week online, some logging in as much as 35 hours of internet use. Females, the younger
youth and those from economically better off regions show higher social media consumption
than males, older youth and those coming from poorer regions.
As subjects of news, women fare low. According to the 2010 Global Media
Monitoring project (GMMP) Philippine findings on news subjects, 31% are women and 69%
are men. 76% of stories reinforce stereotypes, while only 18% challenge stereotypes and only
8% highlight issues of gender inequality.13 This just shows that women are virtually invisible
in the news. The Internet, in many ways, has replaced traditional source of news, but the way
women are portrayed and talked about in the news have remained almost the same in the
online world.
In terms of employment in media, findings from the International Women’s MediaFoundation (IWMF) Global Report on the Status of Women in the News and media(2008-2010) shows that in the Philippines men outnumber women in media management. In
middle management, half are women, 34.5% are in top level management, and 10.3% areboard members.
Business process outsourcing (BPO) in the Philippines grew as a result ofdevelopments and demands in ICT. It is a growing industry. In 2010, BPO activities havegenerated almost 213,000 employment. Bulk of the jobs were in call centers which employed
more than three fourths of the total BPO workforce. It is followed by data processing, andcomputer programming activities.14
More than half of the total workforces were female workers (54.9%). They were
mostly engaged in data processing, application hosting services, customer relationshipmanagement activities, and medical transcription activities.
In special economic zones,15 that host industries mainly for export, the proportion of
women working is much higher than the over-all female labor force participation rate. 64

See pages.cmns.sfu.ca/Kathleen-cross/files/2010/11/GMMP-global.pdf
2010 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI)
15 Philippine economic zones (ecozones) are collections of industries, brought together
geographically for the purpose of promoting economic development. These ecozones
13
14

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Philippines
percent of the 660,600 workers employed in ecozones are female, and this percentage ishigher in certain industries such as electronics.16
Government media institutions are active partners in advocacy against negative
portrayal of women in media. Since May 2009, the Bureau of Broadcast Services, inpartnership with PCW has been airing the weekly interactive radio program, “Tinig Ng
Kababaihan!” (Women’s Voices!) to raise public awareness on government's efforts topromote gender equality and uphold women's human rights, including those guaranteed
under the UN CEDAW. Several media agencies have developed and produced IEC materials
on anti-VAW related laws in comics, pamphlets, brochures and flyers; and conductedorientation/briefing on various gender and development topics, including but not limited togender fair media practice and the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act.
Other government agencies have also been supporting advocacy efforts. The
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) directed its advertising agencies to produce marketing
campaigns and promotional products that are gender sensitive and do not portray
discrimination against either men or women in text or visual renditions. The directive
stressed that under no circumstances should these materials promote (implicitly or explicitly)
sex tourism or the commodification of women. The National Council for Children’s
Television also conducted two dialogues in December 2009 and May 2010 to promote achild-friendly culture, correct the discriminatory portrayal of women and men in certain
situations, among others. The local government unit of Quezon City, with the initiative of its
City Mayor and its GAD Resource Coordinating Office and through its City Council passed a
resolution providing funds for a yearly Gender and Development (GAD) Award for the Most
Gender-Sensitive Film submitted to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

2.

Policies and Laws on Gender and ICTs

were established through Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as "The Special
Economic Zone Act of 1995" as amended by Republic Act No. 8748
16 In Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Gender and Development survey 2009 in
Fostering Women’s Economic Empowerment through Special Economic Zones, 2011.
Available in http://herproject.org/download/sez-and-women-global.pdf

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Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines says that “The State recognizes the role ofwomen in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of womenand men (Art. II, Sec. 14).” The country in fact, ranks high when it comes to genderequality. 17 It has signed several human rights conventions, and has ratified the UN
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in
1980. In 2012, Republic Act (RA) 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women
was passed into law. This is the local translation of CEDAW in the country. Under the Officeof the President is the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), formerly known as the
National Council on the Role of Filipino Women, the primary policy-making andcoordinating body of the women and gender equality concerns.
Republic Act 9710 provides for the “non-discriminatory and non-derogatory
portrayal of women in media and film. Its Implementing rules and regulations (IRR) calledon the Philippine Commission on Women and the Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) to form the Media and Gender Equality Committee (GEC).A milestone in the
advocacy in eliminating gender stereotyping of women in media, the MGEC is composed of
the Office of the Press Secretary, Philippine Commission on Women, and various
self-regulatory bodies and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Movie andTelevision Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Film Academy of the Philippines(FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Optical Media Board (OMB),
from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and representatives fromwomen’s media NGOs. The Committee produced the Code of Ethics for Media, Gender
Equality Guidelines, and Media Guidelines to Protect Women against Discrimination inMedia and Film, which were launched in March 2013 for government media, self-regulatory
bodies, schools of journalism, information and communication, and national federations andassociations to make media more gender sensitive while respecting media’s self-regulation.
The Executive Secretary of the President also issued a Memorandum Circular (2013)“directing all concerned government agencies to adopt the gender equality guidelines in thedevelopment of their respective media policies and implementing programs in order topromote gender mainstreaming.”
17

In 2013, the Philippines ranked number 5 among 136 countries in the Global
Gender Equality Gap, and number 9 among 142 countries for 2014.

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In 2012, MGEC launched three books for media – the Code of Ethics for Media(Book 1); Guidelines to Protect Women from Discrimination in Media and Film (Book 2);
and Gender Equality Guide (Book 3).
In 2011, the Philippines came up with a Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS), to build acitizenry that is not just knowledgeable in ICT but adept in it, as it positions itself at theforefront of the digital revolution.18 There is a need to review the PDS though, consideringthat cross cutting issues such as gender and ICT have not been seriously considered.
Other than the PDS, there are specific laws that have been passed, in relation to ICT.
The more relevant ones that consider women and children issues include the following:
1. The Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (RA 9775) extensively recognizes the roleof ICT in the production, advertising and promotion, sale and distribution, purchaseand access (even for personal use) of pornographic materials, albeit only where thepornography involves children, and punishes those responsible for these acts.
This law considers a child as a “computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted
images or graphics of a person who is represented or who is made to appear to be a child”[Section 3(a)(2)]. The age of the person is immaterial, so long as he/she is presented,
depicted or believed to be a child as defined by the law [Section 3(a)(1)].
The law penalizes child pornography“ as “any public or private representation, bywhatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any
representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes: [Section 3(b)];Child pornography materials may be in the form of visual depiction, audio representation(including real-time internet communications), or written text [Section 3(c)].
2. RA 9995 or the Anti-photo and video voyeurism act of 2009 defines photo or video
voyeurism as the “act of taking photo or video coverage of a person or group of
persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or of capturing an image of theprivate area of a person or persons without the latter’s consent. It also includes theact of selling, copying, reproducing, broadcasting, sharing, showing or exhibiting thephoto or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or similar activity through18

Philippine Digital Strategy, 2011-2016

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VCD, DVD, internet, cellular phones and similar means or device without thewritten consent of the persons involved.
3. RA 10173 or the Data Privacy act was passed in 2012 to safeguard and protect
individual and personal information in information and communication system in thegovernment and the private sector. Under this Act, the data subject has the right toknow if their personal information is being processed, and how it is being used.
Those processing the information must also ensure that security measures are inplace to protect the information that they process.
4. In 2012, RA 10175 or the Anti-cybercrime was passed with the aim to prevent andcombat crimes occurring in cyber space. The law defines and punishes certain acts,
generally classified as:(a) Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer dataand systems; (b) Computer-related Offenses; and (c) Content-related Offenses. The said law,passed in 2012, is at present under temporary restraining order following complaints bygroups with the Supreme Court of its unconstitutionality.
Last year, just a few days after RA 10175 was signed into law, the Supreme Court
issued a temporary restraining order after fifteen (15) petitions to stop its implementation
were filed by journalists, civil society groups, non-government organizations, and evenseveral congressmen and one senator (see sc.judiciary.gov.ph/microsite/cybercrime). The
Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), in its consolidated Answer to these complaints,
identified in the law a total of 20 provisions being assailed as constitutionally invalid while
conceding as constitutionally infirm Section 19, i.e., the “take-down” provision.
Feminist organizations opposed the enactment of the said law. Specifically, theyrejected the cybersex provision of the law for its vagueness and overbroadness. In a statement
signed by several groups, it said that
While the law presumably addresses sexual violence committed online, which are
exploitative and harmful particularly to women, the vagueness and overbroad of cybersex ascontent-related offense creates a different impact on women, who will be the ones caught up
in its wide web and targeted for criminal prosecution.

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Moreover, the elements of the crime under the cybersex provision are not welldefined, therefore the law poses more harm to women who are usual victims of sexual
violence in cyberspace. The law fails to concretely define what constitutes the violation under
the cybersex provision of the law. If the intent of the law is to suppress the occurrence ofsyndicated and exploitative cybersex, the measure may be ineffective as it fails to consider
the transnational nature of sexual violence in cyberspace where site owners or operators andthe buyers are beyond the jurisdiction of the Philippines.19
On February 18, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of theprovisions of RA 10175, including the cybersex and cyber libel provisions, while thefollowing were voted down as categorically unconstitutional:

3.

-

Section 4 (c)(3) which pertains to unsolicited commercial communications-

Section 12 which pertains to real-time collection of traffic data, and-Section 19 which pertains to restricting or blocking access to computer data20

Best Practices

3.1. Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS)
The GMMS is a system for managing the gender and development (GAD) profiles,
GAD Plans and accomplishment reports of agencies and local government units (LGUs). It
can also help generate related reports.
The system is also intended to be a tool for the technical officers of PCW in theprovision of technical assistance to agencies and LGUs. Using the system, technical officers
can profile each agency/Local Government Unit (LGU) which includes among others theorganizations’ vision, mission, description, information available on GAD, including
statistics, and other issuances related to GAD. As such, it becomes easier to monitor agency
19

Delete, Undo, retrieve: Statement on the cybercrime Prevention act of 2012, drafted by the
Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau
20 “Cybercrime law constitutional – Supreme court,” in
http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/cybercrime-law/51197-full-text-su
preme-court-decision-cybercrime-law, accessed on 24 February 2014

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Philippinesand LGU progress in related to gender mainstreaming, as well as monitor government
compliance to the Magna Carta of Women, CEDAW, BPfA, and other related instruments.
3.2. VAW Documentation System
The VAW Documentation System (VAW DocS) is a secure web-based
documentation system that facilitates and integrates the collection and standardization of
information from concerned government agencies and other service providers dealing with
VAW.VAW statistics which are systematically gathered can be used to guide national
policies, such as lobbying for anti-VAW legislation. Data from the VAW DocS can also be
used to gauge the magnitude of the problem which is useful in programming and budgeting
as well as improving service provision, i.e. in a locality.
VAW DocS is still in its pilot stage but has shown its potential. When done regularly,
it can be used as basis for monitoring the Philippine progress in addressing VAW.
3.3. Mobile Applications for womenWith support from the Agencia Española de CooperaciónInternacional para el
Desarrollo (AECID), the PCW launched a contest for college and university students, bothfrom public and private, to develop an Android-based mobile apps based on the Republic Act
9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW).This aims to raise public awareness andpopularize the provisions of the MCW and to promote women’s empowerment and genderequality. To date, a free application called Magdalena is downloadable at Google Play apps.
The said application provides the user with basic background and information on the MCW.
3.4. Take Back the Tech! Campaign
In 2009, the Association of Progressive Media (APC) launched the Take Back theTech campaign in the Philippines with the Foundation for Media Alternatives as its country
partner. The objective of the campaign is the elimination of VAW by using technology, withthe end in view of documenting, denouncing and transforming the reality of violence against
women in online spaces and those that are perpetuated using various forms of ICT. Womenand girls are encouraged to own technology and use it for gender-based activism. The

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campaign utilizes the Ushahidi mapping technology21, to document cases of ICT-related
violence against women and girls. Reports generated through the map are then used as
evidences to back up campaigns for policy changes.
In the Philippines, a total of 68 cases of technology-related VAW have been reported
in the website ph.takebackthetech.net from late 2012 to October 2014. The most common
violation reported is online harassment, followed by the uploading of photos/videos without
consent. In fact, of late, there have been frequent reports in media of sex video scandals
involving local celebrities.
As part of the campaign, FMA also conducts awareness raising on the issue oftechnology-related violence against women in schools, as well as in communities inpartnership with women’s rights organizations and local government units. FMA likewiseholds digital story telling workshops with women so that women’s stories and experiences
are shared. Trainings on secure online communication are also provided to individual andgroups of women, to teach them about their rights online and to protect these same rights.
Through online spaces, women are also taught how to do campaigns and digital activism.

4.

Issues and Challenges
Indeed, ICTs have provided women with a lot of opportunities and benefits. ICTs are

powerful tools and platforms for advocacy and organizing. Individuals and women’s rights
groups utilize various forms of ICT to amplify women’s voices and help publicize women’s
experiences and perspectives, disseminate rights based information, build women’s capacityand promote gender equality through networking and advocacy.22 But despite the gains,there are still issues and challenges that the country has to address, in relation to gender and
ICTs. These include the following:
In media, whether it be in print, photos, television and radio programs,
advertisements and films, women are still stereotyped and at worst, they are portrayed in
The Ushahidi technology is an open source project that allows users tocrowd-source crisis information to be sent via mobile, or online. In
www.ushahidi.com
22 AnitaGurumurthy. Gender and ICTs: Overview Report. IDSS, 200421

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derogatory ways. There are television advertisements, for instance, that portray women as
working mothers and yet when they get home, they are still supposed to cook, take care of
the children and the family.
Despite the guidelines developed by the GEC, there remains a low level ofawareness and appreciation of media practitioners to the problems related to the negative or
inequitable portrayal of women and men. A case in point is when a media personality held ashow and trivialized the issue of rape. This has resulted in the MTRCB calling the attentionof television shows and conducting gender-sensitivity training among the employees andproduction staff.
While there had been initiatives to address stereotyping and derogatory portrayal ofwomen in media, there are difficulties in implementing the policies relating to gender issues
because of the lack of criteria for gender neutral programming. The absence of structural
mechanism to monitor this concern compounds the issue. However, the most alarming
emerging gender issue recently is the use of information and communication technology(ICT), specifically the internet, on ICT-related violence and other forms of cyber harassments.
These issues call for the establishment of structured criteria for gender fairness in media
coupled with the creation of monitoring mechanism on this concern. Sustained interaction
and coordination among various government agencies and NGOs and cooperation of private
media entities should be promoted to advance this advocacy. Participation of women’s groupin the formulation, review and enhancements of ICT policies should be ensured.23
According to a report of the thematic working group on discrimination against
women in public spaces in 2013, “The internet has become a site of diverse forms of violenceagainst women, in the form of pornography, sexist games and breaches of privacy.”
Below are some of the emerging forms of VAW as a result of technology:
Cyber harassment. This refers to online harassment of women, which includes rape
threats, doctored photographs portraying women being strangled, postings of women’s homeaddresses alongside suggestions that they are interested in anonymous sex, and technological

23

BPfA+20: Philippine Progress Report on the Implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action,2014

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attacks that shut down blogs and websites.24Examples of cyber harassment include threats ofsexual violence, doctored photographs of women, postings of women’s personal information,technological attacks that shut down feminist blogs and websites, and emails to forward
unwanted proposals, to name a few.
Revenge porn. It is a form of sexual assault that involves the distribution ofnude/sexually explicit photos and/or videos of an individual without their consent.
Sometimes called cyber rape or non-consensual pornography, revenge porn is usually posted
by a scorned ex-lover or friend in order to seek revenge after a relationship has gone sour.25
Cyber pornography. This refers to acts of using cyberspace to create, display,
distribute, import or publish pornography or obscene materials.
Cyber trafficking. This includes fake online “marriage agencies” or websites
advertising non-existent work of study opportunities, as well the commercialization ofprivate home videos.
Technology-related violence against women, although something which many
people may consider as trivial because it occurs in ‘virtual’ or cyber space, is still violence.
New forms of VAW violate women’s right to privacy, bodily integrity, freedom of
association, and freedom of expression. Although the more common experiences relate to
psychological harm caused by these new forms of VAW, it is something that can escalate
into physical violence.
What differentiates the new forms of VAW from what we know as VAW are thefollowing:26
Anonymity. An abuser may remain anonymous because of digital technology.
Automation. With the use of ICTs, information may be distributed to a large numberof people; surveillance or monitoring can be done without too much time and effort.

Citron, D. “Law’s Expressive Value in combating Cyber Gender Harassment,” inMichigan Law Review, Vol. 108:373. December 2009.
25 www.endrevengeporn.org
26
APC. Voices from digital Spaces: Technology-related violence against women, 2011.
24

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Philippines
Action at a distance. ICTs allow people to abuse or harass others anywhere in theworld.
Affordability. The cost of gadgets and other technological tools have gone down andthis has allowed more people to make use of new technology. There are also many free
applications and platforms that people share, which they do not have to pay for.
Propagation. Once something has been shared or uploaded in the Internet, it isrecorded and easily shared. The propagation of violative texts and images can lead to there-victimization of women.
We also have to take note of the gender and sexuality issues in relation to ICTs,
specifically internet content regulation, monitoring, surveillance and privacy which limit therights to freedom of expression, information and privacy on the net.
With the emerging new forms of VAW committed through ICT, there is also theneed to identify and define ICT-related VAW within national legislations, as well as provide
protection and access to justice of women who have been victimized online.
Government says it will address the physical infrastructure to address access andconnectivity. Knowing how to use devices is not enough. Women should be taught how to
use ICTs strategically for their empowerment, for them to be informed, to avail ofopportunities, to learn and to earn. Thus, there is also a need to review the government’s
digital strategy in order to address issues in relation to women’s empowerment through ICTs.

5.

Policy Recommendations
Based on the above, the following are our policy recommendations:

Need to have sex-disaggregated data especially those coming from government
agencies. While the MCW stipulates this, there is a need to monitor its
implementation.

Intensify monitoring of the implementation and compliance of the Gender Equality
Guidelines as well as women-related laws especially those that perpetuate VAW
through ICTs (R.A. 995, R.A. 9775)

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PhilippinesMedia practitioners need to be capacitated to use gender sensitive language andimages in print, photos, television and radio programs, advertisements and films.



Women should be represented in all decision-making structures in the ICT sector inorder to push for decisions and innovative projects, policies and standards in the ICT
sector that will help empower women.



Need to increase the level of understanding and awareness of the opportunities that
ICTs could provide for women as this will be one of the ways in bridging the gender
digital divide and towards transforming it into digital opportunity. Infrastructuredevelopment is needed to address the digital divide, and corollary, the gender divide

Education and human resource development to promote ICT awarenessInclusion of women’s rights perspective for the development of internet and ICT
policies; direct participation of women in the development of the policy where theneeds of the poor and the marginalized are heard.

Ensure women’s access to justice, not just offline but also online, by not merely
focusing on protectionism and criminalization but through concrete programs toprevent VAW in cyberspace.

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FY 2014 Seminar for Gender Equalityqy Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Philippines Country Report
Vichel Rse E. Juguilon
Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)&
Liza S. Garcia
Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)

1. Country Overview
 Consists of 7,107 islands Capital city is Manilappy 300,000,q Approximately
squarekilometers(115,831 sq mi) and the 64th largest country in
the world.
 With a population of at least 99 million people,
the Philippines is the 2nd most populated
country in South East Asia, 7th in Asia and the12th in the world.
 GDP: US$250.2 B (World Bank, 2012)
GDP per capita: US$2,587
Poverty line (% of pop’n): 25.2%
Unemployment rate: 7.2%
 Human Development Index: 114 (UNDP, 2013)2

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2. Gender Equality Policy“The State recognizes the role of women innation building and shall ensure thefundamental equality before the law of womenand men.” (Art. II, Sec. 14 of the Philippine
Constitution)
Ratified the United Nations Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) in 1980
Passed into law RA 9710, otherwise known as“Th Magna“TheM
C t off Women”
CartaW” whichhi h iis th
the llocall
translation of CEDAWPhilippine Commission on Women is the primary policy‐
making and coordinating body of the women andgender equality concerns under the Office of the
President
3

2. Gender Equality Policy
Aside from RA 9710, the Philippines is implementing the following laws:
 RA 7192‐ Women in Nation Building and Development Act (1992)
 RA 7877‐ Anti‐Sexual Harassment Act (1995)
 RA 8353 and 8505‐ Anti‐Rape Law (1997) and Rape Victim
Assistance and Protection Act (1998)
 RA 9262‐ Anti‐Violence against Women and their Children Act(2004) RA 9775 ‐ Anti‐Child Pornography Act (2009)
 RA 9995 – Anti Photo and Video Voyeurism Act (2012)
 RA 10354‐Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act(2012) RA 10364‐ Expanded Anti‐Trafficking in Persons Act (2012)
 RA 10398‐National VAW Consciousness Day for the Elimination of
VAW (2013)4

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3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features) In the World Economic

Forum’s Global Gender Gap
Report 2013,2013 the Philippines
ranked 5th out of 136
countries, making it the only
Asian country to enter in the
top ten since 2006.
 The Philippines ranks
number 8 in the list of “BestCountries for Women to LiveIn” and is also dubbed as“The Best Place in Asia for
Women”

5

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features) The Philippinesppalso had 2 women

Presidents and women now holdthe following positions: Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court,
Secretary of Justice, Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process,Commissioner of Audit andCommissioner of Internal Revenue

6─ 71 ─

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features)
Indicator

Women

Men

Functional Literacy Rate (%)(10‐64 years old)

88.7

84.2

Basic Literacy Rate (%)(10 years and over)

96.1

95.1

Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 live births)

221‐

Life Expectancy at Birth

73.2

67.6

Labor Force Participation Rate (%)

49.8

78.1

Unemployment Rate (%)

5.9

6.8

Proportion of Occupied Elective Positions (%)

20.0

80.0
7

4. Overview of ICTs in the Philippines
 Internet penetration (2013): 33.6m of

population (based on 2012 est. of 92.3m)
 Penetration based on age
 15‐24 years old (40%)
 25‐34 years old (31%)
 35‐44
35 44 years old (16%)
 45‐54 years old (9%)

8

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4. Overview of ICTs in the Philippines
 Female share of the Internet p
population:p
49%(ComScore, 2013)
 Women spend an average of 15.6 hours permonth on the internet. They are likely to visit
sites that relate to family, home and retail FB usage: 92.2%
 F : 51.9%; M : 48.1 (2010)

9

4. Overview of ICTs ・Media and Genderin the country
Indicator

Own a cellular
phone

81.0

76.0

Use theinternet

61.0

57.0

Have an email
account

55.0

49.0

56.0

50.0

Have a social
networking
account10

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4. Overview of ICTs ・Media and Genderin the countryMagna Carta of Women Section 19
provides for Non‐discriminatory and Non‐
Derogatory Portrayal of Women in Mediaand Film
Gender Equality Guidelines: Guidelines toProtect Women against Discrimination inMedia and Film, and Code of Ethics forMedia was formulated by the Media andGender Equality Committee (MGEC)
The Women’s EDGE Plan 2013−2016
seeks to address the persistent negative
portrayal of women in popular media,
especially in film, television, print, andInternet sites.

11

5. Case Analysis: PCW
VAW Documentation System (VAW DocS)Th VAW D
The
Documentationt ti SSystemt(VAW DocS)
D S) iis a secure web‐based
b b d documentationdt ti
system that facilitates and integrates the collection and standardization of
information from concerned government agencies and other service providers
dealing with VAW.
VAW statistics which are systematically gathered can be used to guide national
policies; e.g. lobbying for anti‐VAW legislation
Data from the VAW DocS can also be used to ggauge
g the magnitude
gof the problempwhich is useful in programming and budgeting as well as improving service provision,i.e. in a locality.
When done regularly, it can be used as basis for monitoring the Philippine progressin addressing VAW

12

─ 74 ─

5. Case Analysis: PCW
Gender Mainstreaming
Monitoringg System
y((GMMS))The GMMS is the system for
managing the GAD profiles,
GAD plan and accomplishment
report of the agencies and LGUs
and for generating related
reports.
The system is also intended to
be a tool for the technicalofficers of PCW in the provisionof technical assistance toagencies and LGUs.

13

5. Case Analysis: PCW
Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System‐Profile each agency/Local Government Unit (LGU) which includes
among others the organizations vision, mission, description,
information available on GAD, including statistics, issuances
related to GAD, etc.
‐Manage the GAD Plan/ AR submission of each agency and its
bureaus, regional offices and attached agencies, and LGUs
‐Monitor agency/ LGU progress in gender mainstreaming ;‐Monitor government compliance to the Magna Carta of Women,
CEDAW, BPfA, etc;
‐Generate related reports.

14

─ 75 ─

5. Case Analysis: FMA

─ 76 ─

Take Back the Tech! campaign
 Calls on all ICT users,

esp.
girls,
esp women and girls
to take control oftechnology andstrategically use any
ICT platform at handfor ACTIVISMAGAINST GENDERBASED VIOLENCE

6. Best Practices : How to make media gender-responsive and toenhance inclusion of women and girls in information society

GENDER EQUALITY GUIDELINES
Launched by the Gender Equality
Committee (GEC) for Media, this kit
contains three books which are: Code of
Ethics for Media (Book 1); Guidelines toProtect Women from Discrimination in
M di andMedia
d FilmFil (Book(B k 2);
2) anddG
Genderd
Equality Guide (Book 3).

18

─ 77 ─

6. Best Practices : How to make media gender-responsive and toenhance inclusion of women and girls in information society

MCW Mobile Application
A contest for college and university
students both public and private withsupport from the Agencia Española deCooperación Internacional para el
Desarrollo (AECID) to develop an
Android‐based mobile apps based on the
Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of
Women (MCW).
This aims to raise public awareness andpopularize the provisions of the MCW
and to promote women’s empowerment
and gender equality.
19

7. Major Obstacles to overcome gender-bias in the
media
Stereotyping of women in media may it be in print,
photos television and radio programs,
photos,programs advertisements
and films is still pervasive.
Low level of awareness and appreciation of media
practitioners to the problems related to the negative or
inequitable portrayal of women and men
The Internet as a means to perpetuate violence against
women is of increasing concern. It is utilized toaccelerate the sexual exploitation of women andchildren.
20

─ 78 ─

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs
Physical infrastructure, connectivity

Lack of access and skills

Gender blind ICT policy
Gender‐blind
policy, and there is no clear
direction on how to address ICT gender‐
related issues

21

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs
Gender and sexuality issues in relation to ICT,
specifically internet content regulation,
regulation monitoring
monitoring,surveillance, and privacy which limit the rights tofreedom of expression, information and privacy on
the netIdentifying and defining ICT‐related VAW within
national legislations,legislations in clarifying issues ofjurisdiction and in terms of providing protection for
women against these forms violence.

22

─ 79 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations
Intensify monitoring of the implementation andcompliance of the Gender Equality Guidelines as well as
women‐related
women
related laws especially those that perpetuate
VAW through ICTs (R.A. 995, R.A. 9775)
Media practitioners need to be capacitated to use
gender sensitive language and images in print, photos,
television and radio programs, advertisements and films.
Women should be represented in all decision
decision‐making
makingstructures in the ICT sector in order to push for decisions
and innovative projects, policies and standards in the
ICT sector that will help empower women.

23

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
Need to increase the level of understanding andawareness of the opportunities that ICTs could
provideid ffor women as thi
this will
ill beb one off th
the ways iin
bridging the gender digital divide and towards
transforming it into digital opportunity.
Infrastructure development to address the digital
divide, and corollarily the gender divide
Education and human resource development topromote ICT awareness24

─ 80 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
Inclusion of women’s rights perspective for the developmentof internet and ICT policies; direct participation of women in
the development of the policy where the needs of the poorand the marginalized are heard.
Ensure women’s access to justice, not just offline but also
online, by not merely focusing on protectionism andcriminalizationi i li ti bbutt ththroughh concretet programs tto preventt
VAW in cyberspace.

25

Sources and References









Factsheet of women and men in the Philippines, National Statistical Authority,
March 28, 2014
Philippine Commission on Women website: pcw.gov.ph
PCW Filipino Women and Men Factsheet, February 2014
Image sources (Slide 8): http://tenminutes.ph/;
http://angbagongfilipino.wordpress.com/page/36/
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/13512/philippines‐tops‐asia‐in‐newsweek‐ranking‐of‐best‐places‐to‐be‐a‐woman
www.pcw.gov.ph
http://en wikipedia org/wiki/Philippines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
Women’s Empowerment, Development and Gender Equality Plan 2014‐2016,
March 01426

─ 81 ─

Sources and References
 ComScore. 2013 SEA Digital Future in Focus
 comScore.
comScore Women on the Web
 Intel. 2012. Women and the Web
 www.apc.org
 https://securityinabox.org/
 https://ssd.eff.org/risk/lessons
 www.itu.int

SALAMAT PO!

“National Machinery for the Advancement of
Women”
www.pcw.gov.ph
facebook.com/philippine.commission.on.women
Twitter: @PCWgovph
www.fma.ph
facebook.com/takebackthetechPH

─ 82 ─

Thailand

Chapter 5 Report from Thailand
1.

Introduction: Country Picture of Gender in ICT Era
Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, withthe population around 64 million people (male 31 million; women 33 million).1 Thailand
was ranked by Gender Inequality Index (GII) in No.66 (0.36), because of the proportion of
women’s participation in the politics was still lower than the mean of GII, and in No.103(0.69) of Human Development Index (HDI).
Computer and Internet Skill
In 2014, Survey of the use of information technology and communication(household) of the National Statistical Office found that computer and internet skills of
population in 6 years and above have increased consistently. Women with computer andInternet skills were 26.6%, 29.1% and 34.9% in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively,
compared to 26.3%, 28.8% and 34.9%, respectively for men over the same period. Computer
users were 23.8 million people or 38.2%, internet users were 21.7 million people or 34.9%,
and mobile users were 48.1 million people or 77.2%. Computer user steadily increased from30.9 to 38.2 in 2010-2014, internet user increased from 22.4 to 34.9 in 2010-2014 and mobile
user from 61.8 to 77.2 in 2010-2014.
Bangkok had the highest computer user rate, followed by the Central. Computer,
Internet and Mobile user among women were approximate to men in almost every year from2010 to 2014. The proportion of men’s Internet user increased from 21.9 to 34.9 andwomen’s Internet user increased from 22.8 to 34.9. 2
ICT is still very much the men’s world.
The working in ICT sector are classified as high-skilled, e.g. computing andcomputer associate professionals, optical and electronic equipment operators, and low-skilled,e.g. electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters. Despite women’s ICT skills,

12

Prediction of Thai population as of the middle of the year 2014
National Statistical Office: The Survey of Use of information and Communication
Technology in Household,2014

─ 83 ─

Thailand
they constituted a small part of the ICT workforce, especially in the low-skilled group. In thehigh-skilled group, women accounted for only half of men.3
2.

Policies and laws on ICTs

2.1. Policies on Women
After Thailand was a member of the global community and has been committed tothe international agreements on women and the promotion of gender equality, such as the UN
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
that ratified in 1985 and the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and MDGs Plus
(MDGs+) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA). These agreements
also had the goal to advance of gender equality concerns of women and emphasized gendermainstreaming.
The Thai government has taken actions to implement relevant international
obligations through collaborative efforts of government agencies, by attached tomainstreaming gender in national policies and coordinated with other organizations. This is
the mainstreaming gender in national policies in the following sections:2.1.a. The Women’s Development Plan under the National Economic and Social
Development Plan
Thailand has incorporated women and gender issues into 5 years National Economic
and Social development plans, through the Women’s Development Plans, starting from the
3rd National Development Plan (1972-1976).
In the present, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF) is
implementing the Women’s Development Plan during the 11th under the National Economic
and Social Development Plan (2012-2016).
The principle aim of this plan is promoting the right attitudes, as well as to adjust
negative traditional attitudes towards women in Thai society. There are also 5 strategies tocapacity building of women, including:3

National Statistical Office and the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP Thailand): Gender Development: Similarities and Differences, 2008─ 84 ─

Thailand

To promote and establish of positive attitudes on gender equality : Recognizing
the roles of family, schools and the media in cultivating the right attitudes
towards the issue of gender equality, this strategy aims at promoting knowledge
on gender roles, recognition of human dignity, and the importance of genderequality for the creation of balance, healthy and sustainable development
among family members as well as through educational courses, programmes
and the media, while correcting traditional prejudices regarding women’s rolesin the family and the society.



To create justice and fairness between men and women: As the best way toassure that national policies and programmes be truly beneficial for women is
to let women be in the position to make decisions, as well as to voice theirconcerns on matters that affect their way of life and status in the society, thisstrategy focus on the promotion of women’s potentiality to participate inpolitics and administration. Also, it seeks to distribute equal opportunities
among women and men to access resources, public services, and to create
appropriate legal mechanisms and measures to support women’s participationin politics and administration.

To improve women’s health, sanitation, security and quality of life: Good
health enables women to work, And to realizing the best of their potentiality.
This strategy, thus, seeks to promote women’s physical, mental andreproductive healthcare as to ensure that women are not prevented to engage or
benefit from the country’s course of development because of their health issues.
Furthermore, it emphasizes that women participate in all processes ofhealthcare policy-making and implementation, and that women, particularly
rural women, old women and those in high-risked groups, have accesses tosufficient and quality healthcare services.



To develop women’s capability and opportunity: For many poor anddisadvantaged women, violence against women (VAW) has loomed as life
threats and barriers against their development in many potential aspects. This
strategy, therefore, proposes to promote security in women’s life and body, in─ 85 ─

Thailandorder to ensure that women can live their life with freedom from fear andviolence.
To strengthen and develop women’s mechanism: Realizing that any women arepoor just because they are denied accesses to economic opportunities,
participation in making economic decisions and deserved benefits, this strategy
propose to solve the problem by promoting knowledge and information for
women, especially regarding their rights, as well as accesses to economic
resources, services, and market so that they may enjoy economic security.

4

2.1.b. The master plan on gender statistical:
The National Statistical Office (NSO), the central statistical organization, developed
a statistical master plan for all government agencies to ensure that Thailand’s statisticaldevelopment supports national policies and development plans. In collaboration with all line
ministries, has therefore developed Thailand’s first Statistical Master Plan (TSMP)
2011-2015. The drafting process was based on participation of line ministries andconsultation with other stakeholders.
The TSMP 2011-2015 is based on the following vision “Thailand’s statistics
represent a joint effort of all government agencies that are driven by a shared goal to develop
Office Statistics to guide and support national development”.5
The coordination with other government agencies, the NSO appointed theCommittee of Thailand’ Statistical System Administrative in Economic, Social, Natural
Resources and Environment to conduct the plan into action, and The Committee of Thailand’Statistical System Administrative in Social branch, also appointed the Subcommittee ofGender Statistical, which was the mechanism to provide The gender statistical development
plan under the Thailand’ Statistical Master Plan for 5 years.

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development: The Women’s Development
Plan during the 11th under the National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016).
5 The National Statistical Office: Executive Summary of Thailand’s Statistical
Master Plan (TSMP) 2011-2015.
4

─ 86 ─

Thailand
3.

Policies on ICTs

3.1. Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Framework.
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) had provided theThailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Framework since 2001.
The first was Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
Framework (2001-2010) or IT 2010 has guided the development of Thailand’s ICT in thefirst decade of the 21st century until the present. IT 2010 flagships, was the“5 e’s strategy”, e-Government, e-Industry, e-Commerce, e-Education and e-Society, which
aiming to enhance the economy and quality of life of the Thai people and lead Thailand
towards a knowledge-based economy and society.
Since the IT 2010 was finished, the MICT has developed the ICT 2020 Policy
Framework for the next 10 years (2011-2020). In drafting the ICT 2020 Policy Framework,
the working group has taken as important inputs the previous policy framework and thecurrent status as well as limitation of ICT development of the country. In addition, analysis
was conducted on the context and overall development direction of Thailand, along withvarious challenges that will be faced by the country in the 10-year span of the policy
framework. This will allow the needs and role of ICT in the future to be anticipated.
Furthermore, the development of the policy framework has also considered the technologicalchanges that will occur in this period, in order to assess the impacts of these technologicalchanges on individuals, economy, industry and social transformation in the country.
The development of the content of this policy framework is founded on thefollowing principles:

Use the key concept of sustainable development which has to consider balanced
development in three dimensions, namely, the social dimension, the economic
dimension, and the environmental dimension. Furthermore, both quantity andquality of development should be considered, along with social justice, in orderto ensure sustainable and stable development.



Use ICT in reducing inequality and providing opportunities for people tobenefit from development in an equitable manner.

─ 87 ─

Thailand

Adhere to the “sufficiency economy” philosophy, that is, to focus on economic
that allows the country to keep up with modern times, while, at the same time,
being mindful of sufficiency and moderation that is commensurate withnational capacity, reasonable and has immunity from internal and externalchanges.



Ensure linkage and continuity in policy and strategy with previous policy
frameworks and master plans, in order to sustain momentum.



It is assumed that public sector financing by itself will not be adequate,
6

therefore, the private sector involvement is highly desirable
4.

Best Practices
Thailand had tried to enhance the potential of ICT in development and initiatedmany program for use ICT to access and usage services for empowering women and men.
There were some programs which focused on gender issues, such as gender statistical toshow and highlight the situation and trend of women and men’ development. The examples
were cited in the following sections:4.1. Thailand’s Gender Information Center
Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF) had established thewebsite www.gender.go.th for the center of gender information, such as policies and act for
women’s empowerment, publication, Gender statistical which are concern of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action, including:a. Women in Poverty.
b. Education and Training of Women.
c. Women and Health.
d. Violence against Women.

6

Executive Summary Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
Framework (2011-2020): ICT2020, Ministry of information and Communication Technology.

─ 88 ─

Thailande. Women and Armed Conflict.
f. Women and the Economy.
g. Women in Power and Decision-making.
h. Institutional Mechanism for the Advancement of Womeni. Human Rights of Women.
j. Women and the Media.
k. Women and the Environment.
l. The Girl-Child.
The website (www.gender.go.th) was the way to communicate to the society about
the situation of women and men. However, there was a limitation for gender statistic in thewebsite, because of OWF wasn’t the primary organization to collect the data, OWF only use
the data from the other government agencies and private sector and bring to analyze on
women and gender issues, so OWF couldn’t control the other organization to provide sex
disaggregated data continuously.
From this problem, OWF try to cooperate with another organization such as
international and regional organization to emphasize and indicate the importance of gender
statistical to the government agencies and Thai society.
These are the examples of the cooperation with the government agency, internationaland regional organization for the gender statistical in the following below:
4.2. Gender Statistics
 Gender - related Development Index Plus : GDI Plus,
In 2009 Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF), with thesupport from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand) developed
composite index Gender - related Development Index Plus: GDI Plus.
GDI plus was inspired by the concept and based on the methodology of UNDP’s
Gender-related Development Index (GDI). The components and the indicators wereexpanded and adjusted to fit the Thai context, and to accommodate data constraints. GDI

─ 89 ─

Thailand
Plus aimed to reflect gender development at the provincial level, which was the strategies
focal point at the policy and implementation levels.
GDI Plus consisted of 6 components and 21 indicators that reflect various aspects ofhuman lives and social activities, including participation and leadership. The indicators also
reflected the distribution of development gains by women and men. The 6 component are
health, education, employment, income, participation, and leadership.
GDI Plus was a composite index that reflected the level of human development thattook into account gender equality at the provincial and regional levels. It could only a general
representation. In reality, there were many dimensions and complicated dynamics in humanand gender development which cannot be fully captured by any composite index.7
 The report of “Gender Development: Differences and Similarities”
In 2008, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand) support the
National Statistical Office (NSO) cooperation with the Office of Women’s Affairs andFamily Development (OWF) prepared the report of “Gender Development: Differences andSimilarities”. The report presented the NSO’s survey data and administrative (back office)data from many government agencies.
This report presented an analysis of gender-disaggregated data on the role anddevelopment of women and men in 7 aspects:
1. Health
2. Education
3. Employment
4. Income and poverty
5. Family life and reproductive health
6. Violence

7

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF), with the support fromthe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand); Gender - related
Development Index Plus : GDI Plus, 2009

─ 90 ─

Thailand
7. Leadership
The aim of the report was to highlight the differences in terms of opportunity, role,and gender equality, sex-specific behaviors. For example, the ratio of women’s and men’s
income in waged employment in non-agricultural sector was 0.92. Women had higher
computer literacy rate, but constituted a small part in ICT employment; the female/male ratio
was only 0.13. More women became victim of sexual violence. Women outnumbered men in
the civil service, but a very small number managed to reach high-level executive positions.
These data clearly reflect the gender situation and gender equality in the Thai society.8
4.3. Center for learning ICT; Thai Community ICT Learning Centers
The concept of Thai Community ICT Learning Centers was founded in Thailand in
2001-2002. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) policyemphasized to develop Thailand to be the Knowledge Base Society. There were also projects
launched continually on one temple one learning center (OTEC) and Information Community(I-Community). Thai Community ICT Learning Center had been established in 2007 with thesupport of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT). From 20
centers in the beginning, the Center had expanded throughout the country with almost 2,049
in 2014.9 These centers were located in four regions in North, Northeast, Central, and Southregions of Thailand.10
Thai Community ICT Learning Centers served as a center for learning anddevelopment of skills and capabilities in information technology, where community’s
members can find resources and seek self-improvement through the internet. They promote
the concept of lifelong learning and the creation of knowledge-based society. Gender
perspectives were applied in conceptualizing the centers, focusing on, for example, women’s
National Statistical Office and the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP Thailand) : Gender Development: Similarities and Differences, 2008
9 http://www.thaitelecentre.org/main/index.php/2013-05-17-10-39-27, October
24,2014
10 Learning Management in Enhancing Potential of Thai Community ICT Learning
Center Project for ICT Development and Utilization; Narong Sompong, Nattapon
Rampai, Cherdpong Kheerajiti,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pil/s1877042813038196 October 24,20148

─ 91 ─

Thailandparticipation and the usefulness of the centers for different groups/housewives. The centers
have more women visitors than men visitors. In 2010, there were 963,202 women visiting thecenter compared to 415,876 men.11
Gender and Media
Thailand is now have the media organization, Thai Public Broadcasting Service(ThaiPBS), which is the private sector of public media that focus on gender equality andwomen’s potentiality in mass media for vision “Public Media and Promotion of Gender
Equality”. ThaiPBS produces and created the television programs, drama series which basedon gender issues and gender perspective, such as “Khon La Dao Deawe kun” the variety
game shows, that focused on the differences of attitudes and feeling in various kind ofproblems’ condition of women and men, the drama series which mentioned on the situationof gender equality in Thai’s society. However ThaiPBS is now the only one clearly of mass
media organization which specific focuses on gender equality and women’s potentiality in
Thailand.
5.

Issues and Challenges
Since the information and communication technology (ICTS) was spread rapidly tothe social, there were many problems occurred with women and children, such as sexual
exploitation, pornography, seduction on social network. However, ICTs were still regard as
the valuable tools and the best way to communicate and disseminate the information
thoroughly. The challenges to success for use ICT to empower women and gender equality,
wasn’t only know and have the skill on how to use the technology, but also realize on theusefulness and bad effect of the information technology too. This is the importance thing,which the government agencies and related organization should to aware. Some issues andchallenges are below:The government agencies and the media associations don’t have measures tocurb and control all kinds of violence against women in all types of media.

11

Draft of Thailand’s sixth and seventh Reports on the Implementations of theConvention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women(Combined); Office of women’s Affairs and Family Development

─ 92 ─

Thailand

Almost the media organization don’t emphasize on gender responsive such as
women’s right and human dignity when disseminate the information about
women to public.

Almost media and computer network vocational lack knowledge of genderawareness to disseminate or report the information about women.

The government agencies don’t emphasize and understand the importance andthe advantage of gender statistical that can show the situation and problem of
women and men.

6.

Policy Recommendations
Promote the Government and related organization to give precedence to collectand provide gender statistical.



Identify and promote good practices and lesson learned on the use of gender
perspective and gender statistical in policy-making as well as developing
targets and indicators to track the progress of women’s and girl’s
empowerment.

Capacity-building towards gender equality in media and social network.



Develop research on ICTs and Women’s Empowerment for the way to integrate
gender responsive and perspectives in all ICTs initiatives.



Integrate gender perspectives in all ICT initiatives.



Promote gender issues in social media.

─ 93 ─

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the
Asia Pacific Region

Thailand Country Report
ICTs and
Women’s Empowerment

Mrs.Natthita Vijittrakarnkul

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security

Country Overview
 514,000 square kilometres
 Population: 64,871,000
64 871 000*
– Female: 33,329,000– Male: 31,542,000*Prediction of Thai population
as of the middle of the year2014

 GII: 0.36 ((ranked no.66))
 HDI: 0.69 (Medium humandevelopment / ranked
no.103)2

─ 94 ─

Country Overview (cont.)
Government
Monarchy

Politics: Temporary Junta
withReligions: Buddhism

Economy: Agriculture3

Gender Equality Policy
 Women
Women’ss Development Plan during the
11th National Economic and Social
Development Plan (2012-2016)•

Principle aim :T promote theTo
h righti h attitudes,i d as wellll as
to adjust negative traditional attitudes
towards women in Thai society.
4─ 95 ─

Gender Equality Policy (Cont.)
Strategies:
To promote and establish of positive attitudes ongender equality.
To create justice and fairness between men andwomen.
To improve women’s health, sanitation, security andquality of Life.
Life To develop women’s capability and opportunity.
 To strengthen and develop women’s mechanism.
5

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
Population 6 years and over who use the internet by sex, 2009-2013

Source : Survey of the Internet users in household year 2013, National Statistical Office ,Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

6

─ 96 ─

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
Social media Users compare with activities by sex,2013

Source : Thailand Internet User Profile 2013, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Public Organization) Ministry ofInformation and Communication Technology
7

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
The number of ICT Workers classify
by job description, 2012
male

femaleSource : Survey of home workers, National Statistical Office8

─ 97 ─

Overview of ICTs
Women had higher computer and internet user,
computer literacy of population 6 years andover steadily increased from 26.6% in 2012 to
29.1% in 2013.
Bangkok had the highest computer literacy rate,
followed by the North.
Internet literacy was higher among women inalmost every part of the Country.
Southern men had the lowest computer andinternet literacy rate.
9

Overview of ICTs (cont.)
ICT was still very much the men
men’ss world.
world
Working in ICT sector are classified as highskilled e.g. computing and computer associate
professionals, optical and electronic equipment
operators, and low-skilled, e.g. electrical andelectronic equipment mechanics and fitters.
Women accounted for only half of men in thehigh-skilled group.
10─ 98 ─

Case Analysis
 The report “Gender Development:
Differences and Similarities” incooperation with The National
Statistical Office and the Officeof Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of theUnited Nations Development
Programme (UNDP Thailand),
2008
11

Case Analysis (cont.)
 Report of gender disaggregated data on the role anddevelopment of women and men in 7 aspects:
1. health
2. education
3. employment
4. income and poverty
5 family life and reproductive health5.
6. violence
7. leadership12

─ 99 ─

Case Analysis (cont.)
 Gender- related Development Index

Plusl : GDI Plus,l consists
i off 6 component
and 21 indicators.

 The 6 component are health, education,

employment, income, participation, andleadership, (2009).

13

Best Practices
 Thailand’s gender information center(www.gender.go.th)14

─ 100 ─

Best Practices (cont.)• The Subcommittee of Gender Statistics under
the Committee of Thailand
Thailand’ Statistics System
Administrative in Economic, Social and Natural
Resources and Environment.
pp• The ggender statistics development
plan under
the Thailand’ statistics master plan for 5 years.

15

Best Practices (cont.)

Community ICT learning
centers under the supervisionof the Ministryy of Information
and Communication
Technology .
16

─ 101 ─

Best Practices (cont.) Promote the positive attitudes toward issue of genderqy to publicpand media vocational.
equality Promote knowledge on gender roles, recognition ofhuman dignity, and the importance of genderequality for the creation of balance througheducation courses, programmes and the media.
 Thai Public Broadcasting Service (ThaiPBS) is theprivate sector of public media which focus on genderequality and women’s potentiality in mass media forvision “Public Media and Promotion of Gender
Equality”
17

Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in access to
ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media
The government organization don’t emphasize theimportance and the advantage for provide sex
disaggregated data.
 The government and media associations don’t havemeasures to curb and control all kinds of violence against
women
in all types of media.
 Almost media don’t emphasize on gender responsive such as
women’s right and human dignity when disseminate thei finformation
i aboutb
women to public.
bli
 Almost media and computer network vocational lackknowledge of gender awareness to disseminate or report
the information.


18

─ 102 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
 Promoting the Government and related organization to give
precedencedtto collect
ll t andd provide
id sex disaggregateddit d data.
d t
 Identifying and promoting good practices and lesson learnedon the use of gender perspective and gender disaggregateddata in policy-making as well as developing targets andindicators to track the progress of women’s and girl’s
empowerment.
 C
Capacity-building
it b ildi ttowards
d genderd equality
lit ini media
di anddsocial network.
 Developing research on ICTs and Women’s Empowerment for
the way to integrate gender responsive in all ICTs initiatives.
1920

─ 103 ─

Viet Nam

Chapter 6 Report from Viet Num
1.

Introduction of Gender in ICT Era
In Vietnam, the ICT sector is mainly dominated by men, but there is some notable

progress. In 1996, only 10% of all university computer graduates were female. In 1998,
21.6% of all students enrolled in IT facilities were female. ICT is the first Vietnam tertiary
education sector which has set up a scholarship program for excellent female students andprofessors. ICT tertiary sector promise that women’s participation in IT sectors will grow in
coming years.
Existing Gender Division of Labor
In general, Vietnamese women face specific barriers in entering ICT professional
labor force and the opportunity to get benefits from ICT applications are much more limited
and fragile than that of men. Overall in IT sector women work in lower skilled and lower
paid positions than men. Many IT companies do not hire women as IT professionals. Among
female IT professionals, 85% work as programmers and only 15% are software designer.
The barrier for women’s carrier in the IT sector is reinforced by a gender prejudicewhich is quite strong in Vietnamese society that men are technically more competent than
women. Women are often fired for sale, marketing and administrative positions even when
they bear same degrees as men’s in software for hardware.
Low Representation of Women in Decision-making in ICT Sector
In general, women’s role in planning, policy making or management of ICT sector at
all levels is not clear compared with men. Little attention has been paid on women’s
empowerment in this sector. Moreover, a number of human resource development andmanagement policies tend to work towards limiting women’s representation in decision
making level. Women’s representation in leadership of all agencies is low compared with
their contribution in the labor force. Moreover, most female representatives often hold vicethan chief management position; therefore their voice among decision makers is very weak.
Lack of gender awareness and sensitivity in ICT development
Although progress has been achieved in fostering gender equality and improving
women’s status, there remains insufficient gender awareness and sensitivity of decision─ 104 ─

Viet Nammakers, public service providers and professionals in the country in general and those
responsible for technology development in particular. This may cause gender discrimination
to be ignored or efforts for gender equality to be difficult.
2.

Policies and Laws in ICTs
In comparison to many other countries in the worlds, Vietnam has enacted many

policies to support gender agenda, such as Law on Gender Equality (2007), Domestic
Violence Prevention Law (2008), etc. Through laws, the Government has recognized andaffirmed men’s and women’s equal rights in both the society and the family.
In ICT sectors, the Government of Vietnam considers communication and the media
as key tools through which to realize gender equality and the advancement of women. This isreflected for example in Decree 70/2008/ND-CP, Decree 48/2009/ND-CP and Decree
55/2009/ND-CP, all stipulating various articles, measures and penalties regarding the Law on
Gender Equality.
In 2010, The Government approved the National Strategy on transforming Vietnam
into an advanced ICT country which defines strategic mission to accelerate the IT industry ofVietnam. There is also strategy on development of human resources of Vietnam during theperiod 2011-2020 which encourage girls to study on ICTs sector.
In order to promote people in rural areas, remote areas to use computer and accessinternet, the Government established the project on improvement of computer usage andpublic internet access ability in Vietnam 2011-2016.
Recently, on 1st July 2014, the government established resolution for promoting ICT
to response to sustainable development that creates equal environment access for both men
and women.
3.

Best Practices
Since 1996, The National Committee for Advancement of women (NCFAW) has

been publishing the bulletin “Women in Progress” on a quarterly basis. This is distributed to
the Committee for Advancement of women in all sectors, provinces and cities, as well as toindividuals and organizations working on gender equality and the advancement of women.

─ 105 ─

Viet Nam
NCFAW’s website (http://genic.molisa.gov.vn) in Vietnamese and English has been
upgraded and maintained, and has received almost 1000 visitors per month.
Since July 2009, capacity building around gender mainstreaming for the Ministry ofInformation and Communication (MIC) using television and printed media has been
implemented within the framework of the UN – Vietnam joint program on gender equality.
The MIC organized the World IT Forum in 2009 with a session dedicated to
discussing gender in information technology. Issues discussed included the obstacles faced
by women in accessing IT as well as policy recommendations and solutions for improving
their access.
Information and communication technology development, particularly the internet,
has created opportunities for information exchange to promote the empowerment of womenand girls, and created conditions for women to share their knowledge, to develop networks
and engage in e-commerce. The Vietnam Women Union support women’s access to IT at
different levels. So far, all of the vocational training centers and establishments run byprovincial Vietnam Women Union have been provided IT vocational training for hundreds ofthousands of women, particular young women.
Increasing numbers of media agencies are promoting women’s participation andbroadcasting positives images of women in mass media. Vietnam television (VTV) and theRadio of Vietnam run programs especially for women such as “New Energy” (broadcast on
daily basis), “Women and Life” with eight 15 minutes broadcast per month andcommunication messages from the Center for Applied Science on Gender, Family andAdolescents (CSAGA).
The Ministry of Science and Technology collaborates with Young Union to organize
an annual ceremony for the “Award for outstanding female Students in IT”. Since 2011,nearly 500 outstanding female students in the IT sectors have received the award. This is aneffort to encourage young female IT students to make a greater contribution in the IT sector
in Vietnam.
The percentage of female workers in the telecommunication sector is increasing with
their improved capacity and qualifications. The statistics from Vietnam Post and─ 106 ─

Viet Nam
Telecommunications (VNPT) show that women account for 42% total labor force the sector,
with 38.37% having university and other higher education qualifications.
Women engaged in IT teaching at universities in on the increase. According to datafrom 17 IT faculties of universities nationwide, female lecturers account for 26% of IT
lecturers. There are 20 IT lectures holding PhDs.
The percentage of urban women having access to mass media is higher than that ofrural women. For instance, 38.8% or women urban women have access to three basic typesof media, while only 15.5% of rural women do so.
Much progress has been made in combating the broadcast of negative images ofwomen through professional guidance, proactive implementation and support of broadcasting
images on gender equality and using non-sex-discriminatory language in communication
programs.
4.

Issues and Challenges
The percentage of women in leadership positions in the information and culture

sector remains low.
Women have less access to IT than men, due in part to the lack of time, burdens ofwork within the family and limited education levels.
There are still negative images of women including gender stereotypes in various
forms of media using modern communication technology.
There has not yet been a large-scale study on images of women and gender equality
in the media in Viet Nam
5.

Policy recommendation
It is very clear that improving ICT infrastructure may increase the number of people

access to ICT. Therefore, the Government’s investment in IT infrastructure has assisted
women in improving their access to IT.
Currently, the policies, projects and programs often lack of gender sensitivity.
Government should manage mechanism of gender mainstreaming in all steps of policy
making.

─ 107 ─

Viet Nam
Many scholars find out that women are lag behind since their low knowledge torecognize rights of themselves. The Government should Improve women’s IT knowledge andfacilitate women’s equal access to IT education and training opportunities.

─ 108 ─

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Name: Nguyen Thi Nga
Nguyen Thi Hoang Bich

Viet Nam
MOLISA & VWU

1.Country Overview-The socialist republic of Viet Nam-Capital: Hanoi/ population: 90 million (2013)-Major language: Vietnamese-Monetary: Viet Nam Dong
-Location: in South East Asia, share border with China, Lao,
Cambodia.
-Weather: Vietnam lies entirely within the tropics-People: there are up to 54 diffirent ethnic groups inhabiting in Viet Nam (Kinh: 86% and ethnic minority
groups: 14%)2

─ 109 ─

2. Gender Equality Policy• Governmental managing gender equality: Genderequality Department - Molisa• 2013 Constitution• Gender Equality Law (2006): to stipulate genderequality in all aspects of life
• Marriage and Family Law (2007)• National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011-2020
mentions some national targets in terms of genderequality in Viet Nam by 20203

2. Cont.

• National Program on Gender Equality 2011-2015
Build some projects and models to promote gender equality
in many fields: employment, politic, economy, etc,…
• Resolution 11-NQ/TW of the Political Bureau of theCommunist Party of Vietnam dated 27/4/2007 on the Workfor Women in the Period of Accelerating Industrializationand Modernization• The Decree No. 56/2012/ND-CP, prescribing
responsibilities of ministries, sectors and People's
Committees at all levels for ensuring the participation in thestate management by the Vietnam Women's Union at alllevels4

─ 110 ─

Vietnam Women’s Union• A political – social organization• Founded in 1930
• Members: over 15 million• Operating through out Vietnam at: central,provincial, district and commune• Mandated to take care women rights andpromote gender equality• VWU’s mission is to take care women’s
spirits and promote equality for women

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county(statistics and salient features)

Labour force

The trend of GII in Viet
Nam
Source: UNDP

Women (%)

Men (%)

Literacy

92.2

96.2

Secondaryschool

24.7

28

6

─ 111 ─Cont.
General statistics on women in Vietnam:
Female population
Women in leadership
National Assembly (2011-2016)
Provincial Peoples Council (2011-2016)
District People Council (2011-2016)
Communal People Council (2011-2016)50.52%
24.4%
25.2%
24.6%
21.7%

Female entrepreneurs
25%
Processing industry, manufacturing 52.3%
Finance, banking and insurance
52.9%
Science and technology
30.8% 7

Cont
Total

Of which
Rural area

Urban area

2007

111.6

112.7

111.3

2008

112.1

114.2

111.4

2009

110.5

110.6

110.5

2010

111.2

108.9

112.0

Gender rate of newly born babies(boys/100 girls)
8─ 112 ─

4. Overview of ICTs・Media and Gender inthe country

Densities of selected ICT equipments in Viet Nam,

Number of employees in computers, Population
Census 2002-

The perentage of female workers in the telecommunication sector is increasing with their improved capacity andqualification: women account for 42% labor force in this sector with 38,7% having university and other higher
education qualifications ( Vietnam post and telecomunication – VNPT 2012)
Women engaged in IT teaching at universities is on the increase: female lecturers account for 26% IT lecturers
The percentage of urban women having access to mass media is higher than that of rural women: 38.3% of urban
women access to 3 basic type of meida, whereas 15.5 of rural women do so
9

VWU WITH ICT• Vietnamese and English website• Open several training courses on
computer• Provide women access to computer• Provide computers to women• E-management of credit program• Starting e-business transaction

─ 113 ─The number of internet users, mobile cellular subscriptions
and fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 20092012
In 2012, Vietnam ranked 83th among
190 countries in the world and 4th in
the SEA in terms of e-government
development index by United
Nations.
In terms of communication andinformation technology development,
in 2012, Vietnam ranked 81th among
155 countries in the world in a study
by ITU.
Vietnam is also categorized as one of
the top ten countries most dynamic in
IT development by ITU.
Source: MIC

11
MIC (2013) Information Technology Application Report 2012

5. Case Analysis• In 2010, MOLISA and MOGEF, The republic of Korea
organized a training workshop “Women and friendly
environment to access internet and media” at national level
for Board of Advancement of women in provinces andministries:+ Raise awareness on the important of ICT for women+Call for attention on women and ICT• MOLISA, Youth Union and MOST organize a annual
ceremony for the “Award for outstanding female students inIT”

12

─ 114 ─

6. Best Practices : How to make media
gender-responsive and to enhance inclusionof women and girls in information society- Raising awareness of people in charge of managing ICT
about gender equality- Increasing number of media agencies to create
opportunities for women to participate and broadcasting
positive image of women- Having incentives for girls to study in ICT sectors- Having a training class for women to guide women to use
computer, access to internet, etc, especially for rural
women and women ethnic minorities- Gender mainstreaming in making ICT policies, programs,
strategies, etc.,…
- Proper punishment for any kinds of action to prohibit
women and girls access to ICT sectors
13

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in
the media-

The percentage of women in leadership positions in theinformation and culture sector remains low
Women have less access to IT than men, due in part to thelack of time, burdens of work within the family andlimited education levels
There are still negatives images of women including
gender steretypes in various forms of media using modern
communication technology
There has not yet been a large-scale study on images ofwomen and gender equality in the media in Viet Nam

14─ 115 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
1. Women should be engaged in ICTs sectors: in ICT labor
force; access to media,…
2. Media is crucial tool to change awareness of people in termof gender equality. So, advertisement on internet or on
television and other medias should be evaluated under
gender lens before releasing
3. The Government’s investment in IT infrastructure has
assisted women in improving their access to IT.
4. ICT Legal system should be gender sensitive mainstreaming
to meet needs of women.
5. Developing budget for ICT and women’s empowerment.
6. Networking ICT institutes/organizations in the region.
15

─ 116 ─

プロフィール

執筆者プロフィール
Contributors’ Profile カンボジアCAMBODIA

ケオ・バタナMs. KEO, Vathna

女性省

Ministry of Women’s Affairs

TV 放送部長

Chief of TV Broadcasting Office

女性・児童に対する暴力、人身取引、レイプに関する国内のニュースをまとめた日報を作成しています。国内ラジオで放送する前に、ジェンダー主流化に関連する情報を収集しています。公立学校に通う若者たちを対象とした DV 研修を企画し、メディア（地元テレビ、ラジオ、ウェブサイト、ニュースレターなど）を通じた情報発信を担当しています。

I make daily reports from the news related to violence against women and children,
human trafficking and rape from the domestic newspapers to the Minster. I provide assistanceto ensure about the quality of information on gender mainstreaming before it’s broadcasted
by the local radio. I also organize the public forum to youth in the public school on domestic
violence and am in charge of information dissemination though medias (local television,
radio, website and newsletters).
チム・マナヴィ

Ms. CHIM, Manavy

オープン・インスティテュート

Open Institute代表

Executive Director

20 年以上外務省に勤務の後、現在はオープン・インスティテュートの代表・創設者であり、執行委員委員長を務めています。http://open.org.kh/en.
オープン・インスティテュートでの役割は、以下の通りです。
・オープン・インスティテュートのミッションに沿った事業の実施統括
・活動戦略の策定
・資金調達、運営持続性の確保
・女性ウェブポータルと掲示板の編集長として、Women Program and Act の運営

http://women.open.org.kh/km/contact-us, http://women.open.org.kh

─ 117 ─

Profile

ICTを活用して女性のエンパワーメントにつなげる一連の取組みは、2013年10月ジュネーブで行われた女性差別撤廃委員会(CEDAW)の第56回UNセッションで、好事例として取り上げられました。

http://www.apc.org/en/news/committee-elimination-discrimination-against-womenWith over 20 years experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am currently the
Executive Director, co-founder of the Open Institute (OI), and Chairperson of the Executive
Committee http://open.org.kh/en. My responsibilities include:・Supervise overall progress towards upholding and fulfilling the mission of the OI
・Ensure the organization has a long-range strategy
・Fundraise and ensure the sustainability of the organization
・I created Women Program and Act as Editor-in-Chief of the women web portal andwomen bulletin
http://women.open.org.kh/km/contact-us, http://women.open.org.kh
My efforts to advocate the use of ICT for women empowerment have been
acknowledged at the 56th UN session of the CEDAW in Geneva October 2013.
http://www.apc.org/en/news/committee-elimination-discrimination-against-women

 インド

INDIA

リズィヴィ・ゾーヤ アリー Dr. RIZVI, Zoya Ali
厚生・家族福祉省

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

副本部長

Assistant Commissioner

国や中央官庁が実施する公衆衛生管理の分野で様々な業務を担当してきました。現在
は「青少年健康プログラム」の策定、実施及び広報活動を統括しています。
「青少年健康プログラム」は、インド全国の思春期の女子と男子  億  千万人を対象とする意欲的な取り組みです。同プログラムを通じて既存のヘルス・ケア・サービスと協力しながら、予防的ヘルス・ケアの提供を目指しています。保健分野で活動している援助機関とも連携しています。

I have a long and wide experience in the field of public health and healthmanagement both at the State and Central Government level. I am currently look after the─ 118 ─

プロフィールplanning, implementation and development of communication strategy of the very ambitious
Adolescent Health Programme of India which aims to cover more than 250 million
adolescent boys and girls spread over 36 states and union territories. We aim to provide
promotive and preventive health care along with the already existing curative health careservices in the government sector. My responsibilities also encompass interaction withmultilateral agencies working in the health sector of India both directly and indirectly.
プラブカテェ・プリティ アビジィット

Dr. PRABHUGHATE, Priti Abhijit

国際女性問題研究センター

International Center for Research on Women

上級技術専門官

Senior Technical Specialist

ソーシャル・ワーカー/研究者の立場で、主にジェンダーと HIV 関連事業の技術支援をしています。ICRW のプロジェクト・リーダーとして、ジェンダー視点に基づいた健康問
題（例えば HIV）理解の促進のため、他機関に技術協力を行っています。ICRW では、ジェンダー視点に基づいた、アルコール政策や女性に対する暴力のような幅広い業務を担当し、専門分野を広げることができました。
医療機関へのアクセスや、公共医療政策が女性と男性では異なる影響を与えることについて、データを収集し、ジェンダーと健康の分野への貢献を目指しています。

As trained social worker and researcher, I provide technical assistance to projects
primarily involving gender and HIV. I lead projects in ICRW and provide technical assistanceto other agencies to enhance understanding on health issues like HIV from a gender
perspective. My exposure to various projects in ICRW has helped me to widen myprofessional horizon to apply my experience to wider health issues like alcohol, alcohol
policies and violence against women from a gender perspective. I intend to contribute to thefield of gender and health by creating evidence on how access, experience of health services
and policies differentially impact women.

 フィリピンPHILIPPINES

フギィロン・ヴィシェル アール エス イー エデン Ms. JUGUILON, Vichel RSE Eden
フィリピン女性委員会

Philippine Commission on Women

企画担当官

Planning Officer II

─ 119 ─

Profile


企画担当官として、ジェンダー主流化、ジェンダーと開発(GAD)、女性関連法に関連したオリエンテーション、講義や研修を担当しています。具体的には、ジェンダーと開発やジェンダー主流化関連法分野での計画・予算策定について、省庁や国立大学、カレッ
ジ、地方自治体などの支援をしています。
PCW のローカル・ジェンダー・プログラム（LGRP)スタッフとして、他省庁と連携しながら、自治体レベルのジェンダー主流化の学習拠点の形成に協力しています。また女性のエンパワーメントと男女平等に関連した、PCW の取組みについて情報提供を行っています。

As Planning Officer, I provide technical assistance on Gender Mainstreaming and
GAD Planning and Budgeting to National Government Agencies, State Universities andColleges, and Local Government Units (LGU) through orientation/lectures and trainings on
GAD, Gender Mainstreaming, Laws on Women and other related topics. I am also part of the
Local Gender Resource Program (LGRP) of the PCW and provide technical assistancethrough forging partnerships with other National Government Agencies and identifying LGU
Learning Hubs on mainstreaming GAD at the local level. I also represent PCW in meetings
to input regarding issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality.
ガルシア・リザ サモンテ

Ms. GARCIA, Liza Samonte

メディア・オールタナティブス財団

Foundation for Media Alternatives

ジェンダーと ICT プログラム・コーディネーター

Coordinator for Gender and ICT

ジェンダーと ICTs のプログラム・コーディネーターとして、テクノロジーとジェンダーの分野で、適切で戦略的な ICTs を活用した、フィリピンの女性団体のエンパワーメン
トを支援しています。
昨今のデジタル環境の進展のなか、女性の権利の拡張と保護、特にテクノロジーを用いた女性に対する暴力への対応を担当しています。
適切なツールとテクノロジーの戦略的な活用を通して、デジタル環境でジェンダーに関連する権利を守り、市民とコミュニティ、特に女性と女児のエンパワーメントのために支援をしています。

As Program Coordinator for Gender and ICT, I contribute to the discourse on theunderpinnings and intersections of gender issues and technology, and provide assistance inthe empowerment of Filipino women and their organizations through appropriate and─ 120 ─

プロフィール

strategic use of ICTs. I am in charge of promotion and protection of gender-based rights indigital/electronic environments, especially in understanding and addressing the particular
manifestations and impacts of technology-related violence against women. I also provide
technical assistance to build the capacity of citizens and communities, esp. women and girls,
to protect themselves and defend their gender rights in digital environments, esp. throughstrategic use of appropriate tools and technologies.

 タイ

THAILAND

ヴィジットラッカ―ンク－ン・ナティタ

Ms. VIJITTRAKARNKUL, Natthita

社会開発・人間の安全保障省 女性と家族開発部、ジェンダー平等推進局

Bureau of Gender Equality Promotion, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development,
Ministry of Social Department and Human Security
Social Development Worker

社会開発担当職員

研究と情報グループの研究開発担当職員としての経験を活かし、統計マスタープランを構築するため、国内のジェンダー統計の整備を国立統計局と連携しておこなっています。また、北京宣言と北京行動綱領に基づき、タイの女性を取りまく現状についてのデータを更新し、ジェンダー問題に関するデータ分析を担当しています。
研究部門のスタッフとして、ジェンダー問題に関して研究計画を策定し、北京宣言と北京行動綱領に沿ったジェンダー研究を総括しています。
省庁（131 機関）を対象にしたモニタリングと評価、ジェンダーの視点の導入、男女平等に関する陸軍士官学校の男子学生の意識調査などの研究を統括しています。

Making use of my experience as social development worker in research andinformation group, I cooperate with National Statistics Office to develop gender statistics ofThailand to support statistical master plan. In addition, I analyze and summarize data on
gender issues for providing Women’s Situation Report following the Beijing Declaration andPlatform for Action. As a research unit staff, I prepare research project proposal on genderissues, synthesize and summarize researches on gender issues including researches on
women following the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. I also assume
responsibilities to conduct research such as monitoring and evaluating the gender focal point
among 131 line ministries, working on gender perspectives, and study about attitude of malestudents of military academy on gender equality.

─ 121 ─

Profile ベトナムVIET NAM

グエン・ティ ガー

Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Nga

労働傷病兵社会福祉省男女共同参画局

Gender Equality Department – Ministry of Labour/ Invalids and Social Affairs
Officer職員

女性と開発の分野で修士号を取得。現職では、ベトナム国内のあらゆる分野で男女平等が推進されるよう、各種業務を担当しています。ジェンダー主流化政策に関する研究を担当しています。加えて、雇用、女性に対する暴力など、さまざまな領域での政策立案をコーディネートしています。さらに、男女平等を推奨する際に、「ジェンダー平等国家戦略(2011-2020 年度)」
「ジェンダー平等国家プログラム（2011-2015 年度)」の実施にも従事しています。

I finished my master in women and development. As my office is in charge ofmanaging and promoting gender equality in all aspects in Viet Nam, I often conduct gender
related researches in order to mainstream gender perspectives in policies. Additionally, I also
coordinate policy-making processes in various areas such as employment and violenceagainst women, etc. Furthermore, I deploy some activities in National Strategy on Gender
Equality 2011-2020 and National Program on Gender Equality 2011-2015 in advocating
gender equality.
グエン・ティ ホアン ビック

Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Hoang Bich

ベトナム女性ユニオン

Vietnam Women’s Union

国際関係部職員

International Relations Department Official

ベトナム女性ユニオンとアジア太平洋地域の女性団体とのネットワーク構策を担当しています。
ベトナムの女性の地位向上を目指し、開発プロジェクトの策定・実施を担当しています。海外諸機関と連携し、ワークショップの企画、セミナーでの情報共有、男女平等の経験・体験の意見交換を支援しています。
女性や女児に関連した法律や法令の策定には、ベトナム女性ユニオンのコンサルタン
トとして参画しています。ベトナム女性ユニオンのウェブサイト、ウェブ上の広報、国内でのベトナム女性ユニオンが実施した開発プログラムや国内の女性運動の動向に関す

─ 122 ─

プロフィール

る記事、各国のジェンダー関連のニュースを収集するほか、記事の寄稿もしています。

I am assigned to maintain and to expand relationships between the Vietnam
Women’s Union and women’s organizations in Asia Pacific region. I am in charge ofdesigning, implementing and managing development projects to promote advancement of
women’s status in Vietnam. I assist to organize workshop, seminar for sharing information,exchanging experiences on gender equality, that coordinate with Vietnamese andinternational partners. I serve as consultant to VWU when they draft laws or regulations
related to women and girl children. I also contribute articles to VWU website, VWU
e-Bulletin, Vietnam Women’s News Paper which feature VWU development programs andwomen’s movement in the country, as well as news around the world through gender
perspective.

越智 方美Dr. Masami Helen OCHI

独立行政法人国立女性教育会館 研究国際室

Office of Research and International Affairs, National Women’s Education Center
専門職員
Specialist
博士（社会科学）。お茶の水女子大学大学院人間文化研究科博士後期課程修了。上智大学外国語学部フランス語学科卒業後、外資系企業にてマーケティング、人事業務を担当。
英国イースト・アングリア大学大学院留学を経て、東京都所轄事業所「東京ウィメンズ
プラザ」に勤務し、男女平等推進研修の企画業務に従事。2008 年 9 月より現職。国立女性教育会館では、海外の男女共同参画推進機関との連携業務を担当し、社会学の視点から、日本やアジア諸国のジェンダー平等政策について研究をおこなっています。

Ph.D in Social Sciences. Completed the doctoral degree at the Graduate School of
Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu Unitervisy, in Tokyo. Graduating Sophia University
in Tokyo, Dr. Ochi served as marketing and personnel officer in private sector. She holds an
M.A. in Gender Analysis in Development from University of East Anglia in Norwich, U.K.
After having worked at “Tokyo Women’s Plaza”, gender equality center under thejurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, she joined NWEC in September, 2008.
Her assignments at NWEC include networking with gender machineries and civil society
organizations as well as organizing international seminars and forum. She also supervises a

─ 123 ─

Profile

research project on comparative study of gender equality policies in Japan and the South East
Asian countries.

─ 124 ─

本書の内容は、「平成 26 年度アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画推進官・リーダー
セミナー」の報告資料をとりまとめたもので、必ずしも国立女性教育会館の統一的な公式見解ではありません。
本書に記載されている内容は、国立女性教育会館の許可なく転載できません。

This report is based on reports and discussion of “2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region” sponsored by NWEC. The views expressedin the report do not necessarily reflect those of NWEC.
The contents of this report may not be reproduced without permission from NWEC.
発行：平成 27 年 3 月
編集：独立行政法人国立女性教育会館（NWEC）〒355-0292 埼玉県比企郡嵐山町菅谷 728 番地

Published by: National Women’s Education Center of Japan (NWEC), March 2015
728 Sugaya, Ranzan-machi, Hiki-gun,
Saitama, 355-0292, Japan

Table of Contents
Message from the President
Ms. Fusako Utsumi
President, National Women's Education Center (NWEC)

Posters on Gender and ICT Initiatives in Five Asian Countries
Foreword
Chapter1.

ICT and Women's Empowerment ............................. 1



Dr. Masami Helen Ochi

Chapter2.

Report from Cambodia ............................................ 11

Ms. KEO, Vathna
Ms. CHIM, Manavy

Chapter3.

Report from India .................................................... 34
Dr. RIZVI, Zoya Ali
Dr. PRABHUGHATE, Priti Abhijit

Chapter4.

Report from the Philippines ..................................... 55
Ms. JUGUILON, Vichel RSE Eden
Ms. GARCIA, Liza Samonte

Chapter5.

Report from Thailand .............................................. 83
Ms. VIJITTRAKARNKUL, Natthita

Chapter6.

Report from Viet Nam ........................................... 104
Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Nga
Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Hoang Bich

Contributors’ Profile ................................................................. 117

Foreword
Since 2006, the National Women’s Education Center (NWEC) has held internationalseminars for women in leadership roles in the Asia Pacific region. Every year, the Seminarfor Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders has chosen emerging gender issues that arecommon in all countries, such as violence against women, promotion of girls’ education andgender-responsive disaster recovery. In the 2014 fiscal year, the seminar was held between
September 29 and October 3 under the theme of ICT and Women’s Empowerment. Nine
women leaders who work for national machineries, academic institution or non-governmentalorganizations, representing five countries in the Asia Pacific region (Cambodia, India, thePhilippines, Thailand and Vietnam), attended the seminar.
Viewed from the perspective of women’s participation in the society, rapid growth of
ICTs has had dual effects. While the spread of cell phones and social networks facilitatedformation of connections and sharing of information among women across national borders,it has also generated new gender issues, including violence against women in cyberspace, as
seen in revenge pornography.
This booklet is based on the country reports, which are included as a PowerPoint
document in English at the end of the booklet and analyses by the participants of the 2014
Leader Seminar regarding the current situation and challenges relating to gender issues and
ICT in their respective countries. The booklet also contains materials of poster sessions,shown in color at the beginning of the booklet, presented at the Seminar. The opinions shared
during the presentation of the country reports regarding the situations in the five Asian
countries, and reports that were written by the participants incorporating knowledge that theygained during the seminar in Japan are included. Legal systems concerning gender issues and
ICT, as well as actual cases of women’s empowerment efforts in each country are alsopresented in the booklet. It is our sincere hope that this booklet will offer some help in
promoting gender equality in all countries.

Fusako Utsumi
President
National Women’s Education CenterChapter 1 ICT and Women’s Empowerment
1. Introduction
Rapid technological innovations and a decline in the price of ICT (Information andCommunications Technology) facilitated a sweeping global spread of technology. Its impact
has spread to various industries beyond the science and technology industries. It has also
affected business models and a number of other areas, including the way people live and theirvalue systems. This report contains examinations about ICT and women’s empowerment in
six Asian countries, including Japan.
ICT stands for Information and Communications Technology. In this report, we will baseour discussions on the premise that information, technology and the ability to communicate
with others by applying information and technology are all equally important. In Japan, morethan 82% of people use the Internet and no significant gender gap is observed among users(総務省, 2014). In some other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, however, women face
obstacles in using new technologies. For example, the benefit of the IT boom in India, acountry that many Japanese consider to be a major IT powerhouse, is not enjoyed equally by
women and men. It has been pointed out that some women “borrow” cell phones from theirfamily members (Chapter 3 Report from India). Even if access to ICT is equally open to bothgenders, challenges remain in place. In Thailand, the gender breakdown of Internet users has
been approximately equal to that in Japan. It has been reported, however, that women’s
employment in ICT-related industries is mostly in jobs that do not require advanced skills,
such as the repair and maintenance of electronic equipment (Chapter 5 Report from Thailand).
These two examples suggest the need to examine the issue of access to information
processing technology, which is the case in India, separately from the issue of genderinequality in employment opportunities for higher paying jobs, which is the case in Thailand.
Nonetheless, both examples testify to the fact that the growth of new technology and its
applications are not gender neutral and that women tend to be marginalized when it comes tothe benefits brought on by ICT.
Next, let us take a look at the relationship between ICT and women’s empowerment. In
the fields of development studies and gender studies, empowerment refers to the process inwhich people who are placed in socially disadvantaged gets power. Does ICT promote genderequality or does it widen the existing disparity? There is more than one answer to this

─1─



question. Viewed in the framework of the participation of women in society, the growth of
ICT has had two conflicting effects. On the positive side, ICT can promote gender equality
and help bring about social changes. More specifically, ICT is used to help women achieve
economic independence and raise public awareness that violence against women is a problem
that affects all of society. On the other hand, the negative aspects of ICT cannot be dismissed.
For instance, new modes of violence that have arisen in cyberspace, including revenge
pornography and stalking activities using e-mail and social networking sites, have been
mentioned repeatedly in the five country reports that are contained in this report.
ICT’s growth is important not only for technological improvement, but also because dataapplications enabled by such technological improvement create diverse values. This report
adopts a broad definition of ICT and analyzes not only the technical aspects of information
processing and information communication, but also the role of media in how it produces,
processes and disseminates gender-related information.
2. ICT and Gender Issues in Japan
Next, we would like to review the current situation in Japan. As we are unable to provide
a comprehensive review here, due to limited space, we will instead focus mainly on thetrends since the 1990s regarding feminist movements to promote gender equality in Japanand ICT’s relevance to those movements, based on knowledge gleaned from lectures andvisits during the Leader Seminar that was implemented by the NWEC in FY2014. The
seminar was the impetus for the publication of this report.
2-1.

Women’s Movements in Japan and ICT—“Creating” Women’s Information
The involvement of ICT in women’s movements in Japan dates back to the 1990s.

During the 90s, the majority of the Japanese viewed equipment such as personal computers(PCs) and mobile telephones strictly as a promising industry. Not many saw its potential for
creating social values. Accordingly, the term IT industry was extensively used. However,feminists who instinctively sensed that the new technology had the potential to change
society recognized that “C” (of communication), which is lacking in mainstreaming businessmodels, was essential to that change and that there was a need to re-examine the role of themedia, which handles communication, from a gender perspective. (村松, 1997; 鈴木,
2005:81).

─2─

Item J (Women and the Media) of the Beijing Platform for Action, which is the outcome
document of the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, illuminates thefact that such awareness of the issues was not limited to Japan.
During the past decade, advances in information technology have facilitated a global
communications network that transcends national boundaries and has an impact on public
policy, private attitudes and behaviour, especially of children and young adults. Everywhere
the potential exists for the media to make a far greater contribution to the advancement of
women (Item J 234).
During the Beijing Conference, NGO Forum on Women, Beijing '95 was held in parallel tothe intergovernmental conference. More than 6,000 gender scholars and activists from Japanattended the NGO Forum. After their attendance at the international conference, full-scaleuse of the Internet started as a means of exchanging information among people who wereinvolved in women’s movements. One of the visible outcomes of the Beijing Conference as it
related to information on women was the formation of the NGO Report Preparatory
Committee in 1999 by groups of women who attended the conference and united with one
another.
At the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, held in 1999, a resolution wasreached to create NGO Alternative Reports that summarized the status of progress on efforts
to improve women’s status throughout the world in time for Women 2000, which was aspecial session of the United Nations general assembly, to be held in 2000 in New York. The
NGO Alternative Reports summarized the findings of studies conducted to measure theextent of efforts made to achieve gender equality from the point of view of civil society,separately from government reports. The Japan NGO Report, which was created by Japanesewomen’s organizations, was eventually reflected in one of the regional reports that werecompiled for each of the five regions of the world and submitted. (日本 NGO レポートを作る会, 1999) Because only a limited number of women were able to actually attend
international conferences such as the Beijing Conference and other United Nations
conferences, reporting on women’s opinions and activities, compiling the information, anddisseminating it to the international community via the Internet in the form of NGO reports
was a dramatic achievement in the history of women’s movements.

─3─



The importance of sharing information that adopts women’s points of view was not
restricted to the dissemination of information to the international community. It was also
reflected in movements at home. An information network on women’s policies, or Josei
Seisaku Joho Network (JJ Network), was established in 1996 by some female members of theDiet along with female NGO leaders with the purpose of sharing information about the
progress of new laws on gender equality and lobbying related activities. JJ Network
published four or five newsletters every month, covering Parliamentary actions (development
and summary of minutes of plenary sessions and committees of both houses of Parliament),
information on councils about women’s policies, and women’s actions that were not reported
by major mass media. The newsletters were sent over fax. JJ Network was unique in that it
created a loose circle for information exchange among people who were interested inwomen’s policies, and that it was a bidirectional network, allowing each participant to beboth a sender and a recipient of information. JJ Network continued until 2004 (日本女性学
習財団).
Naila Kabeer, a Bangladeshi-born British social economist, coined the term “Power with”
in her study of the empowerment concept. The term refers to women forming lateralconnections at grass-root levels and raising their voices (Kabeer, 1994). The actions of the
NGO Report Preparatory Commission and JJ Network during the 90s are notable examplesof the “Power With” concept that was advocated by Kabeer as women pursued the goal of
creating and disseminating information that met their needs.
2-2.

Media-related Issues in Japan

Since the 1990s, gender equality centers and women’s centers were established in Japanas key locations to promote gender equality in respective communities. As of 2014, 386
women’s centers were operated by governments and private organizations throughout Japan.
At women’s centers, various lectures and study sessions are held on issues such as women’s
way of life, values of housework, and problems at work place. A course on criticallyexamining media (media literacy) has been held, too. When we examined mass media fromthe gender perspective, it became evident that “Print and electronic media in most countries
do not provide a balanced picture of women's diverse lives and contributions to society in achanging world.” (Beijing Platform for Action, Item J-236)
Let us take a look at the current situation faced by women who work in the broadcast

─4─

industry. According to a survey conducted principally by the Society of Japanese Women inRadio and Television, women accounted for 13.4% of the total workforce at broadcast
stations and newspaper publishing companies in 1993. This percentage rose only minimallyto 15.0% in 1999 and 15.4% in 2004 (谷岡, 2011:222). These figures show that women are
still a minority in the very place from which information is disseminated in spite of therevisions to the Gender Equality in Employment Act (in 1996 and 2006) and the enactment of
the Basic Act for Gender-Equal Society (in 1999).
Male dominated studios are even producing TV commercials that affirm existing genderdivision of labor. One widely-known example is a TV commercial for instant noodles thatwas made by House Foods in 1975. When the ad was broadcast, the catch phrase “We (girls)
are the ones who prepare it! I (a boy) am the one who eats it!” used in the commercial met
protests from citizen groups for fear that it affirmed the stereotypical gender division of labor,
and the ad was halted. (行動する会記録編集委員会, 1999).
As this shows, the mass media has yet to pay adequate attention to gender issues.

Nevertheless, the climate is shifting. One new development is that even in the world of TV
commercials, expressions that are not bound by traditional gender division of labor are
emerging. In Japanese society too, men who actively share responsibilities of householdchores and child care, are called iku-men, or child-raising men. The term is gradually takingroots. During lectures at the Leader Seminar, a lecturer introduced a detergent commercial inwhich a man does laundry and sews an appliqué on a nursery school uniform for his child.
An active discussion followed about the portrayal of women and how gender roles arepresented in commercials in the seminar participants’ originating countries. Although theprogress is slow, the number of women managers in the broadcast industry has been growing,offering signs of change. Media has also become diverse. Since the Great East Japan
Earthquake that struck in 2011, information is disseminated actively by alternative media,
providing reports that are not covered by major mass media and other reports that adopt the
viewpoints of gender and minority groups.
2-3.

Experimenting with New Ways to Work through Telework

ICT is also changing the way people work. In Japan, people who are 65 years or older
account for 23% of the total population (2010). By 2060, that percentage is projected to riseto 39.9%. The decrease in the birthrate and the aging of the population are expected to

─5─



accelerate at an unprecedented pace. In contrast, 4.28 million of the non-working population
wishes to be employed (2013 average). Women account for three quarters of this group, andnumber approximately 3.15 million. Reasons for women quitting work include childbirth andchild care (2.05 million), lack of a suitable job (.97 million), and nursing care (.16 million).
The absence of employment opportunities that match women’s life cycles can be said to be
one cause of women’s involuntary unemployment. At the same time, baby boomers are now
reaching age 70, raising the possibility that they will need nursing care. A survey by the
Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour revealed more than 70% of workers regardless ofgender (78% of women and 72.1% of men) are worried about their ability to keep their jobs
while providing nursing care at the same time (Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting).
Given this situation, ICT-based work-at-home programs or telework are receiving
attention as new ways of working. Considering importance of telework that enable single
mothers and other women who gave up employment for such reasons as child care tocontinue to work while achieving a work-life balance, NWEC arranged a lecture during theLeader Seminar about NTT Communications’ initiative to support women working at homewith the use of ICT.
The company has operated a virtual contact center since 2001 by using telephone
operators who work from home. Telephone operators, who are called CAVA (an abbreviation
for .com Advisor & Valuable Agent), are chosen from among those who pass the .com Master
Internet examination and receive training. Operators consist of work-at-home telephone staff
members who provide Internet technical support services from home, and home-based staff
members who visit customers’ offices to provide support services. As of 2014, NTT
Communications’ virtual call center employed 1,000 work-at-home telephone staff and 900
home-based staff who make customer calls. Together these workers provided services toapproximately 8 million customers.
The attributes of staff members vary. There are women who are raising young children,
people who left corporate positions, and women who are providing nursing care for family
members. The system uses cloud technology and thus enables operators to perform theirwork by referring to scripts on a personal computer screen in their homes. The use of cloudtechnology is beneficial to corporations as the risk of customer information leakage isreduced. Workers can work at home when they want for as long as they wish while
improving their ICT skills. It is thus a win-win situation (Kobayashi, 2014).

─6─

According to the 2014 ICT White Paper (総務省, 2014), the ICT environment ofcorporations is improving. However, only about ten percent of corporations adopt telework.
In comparison, the majority of people, regardless of gender, wish to telework. This indicatesthe construction of systems to enable people to work in diverse ways lags behind people’s
desire to practice such new ways. It is hoped that many more such attempts will be made in
the future to make it possible for both men and women to work flexibly.
3. To link ICT to Women’s Empowerment
So far in this chapter, we have examined the history of ICT’s involvement in women’s
movements, the current media environment, and corporations’ initiatives in relation to ICT
and gender issues in Japan. What kinds of measures are effective for linking ICT to women’s
empowerment? Chapters 2 through 6 of this booklet present the best practices of ICT use inpromoting women’s social participation, as well as challenges faced in each country. Pleaserefer to the country reports for details. Before closing Chapter 1, the five countries’ bestpractices are summarized as follows:
In Cambodia, social media is used as an important tool to ensure violence against womenis recognized by all of society and to educate the public about prevention. In addition, acampaign entitled Take Back the Tech! is led by a civil society organization. In India, cell
phone usage has been linked to improved maternal and child health. In the Philippines, asystem to control documents on VAW cases (VAW DocS) was launched by the Philippine
Commission on Women. A contest has also been held to develop cell phone applications for
women. As in Cambodia, initiatives to return technology to women’s hands are also abundantin the Philippines. From Thailand, reports were made of community ICT learning centers thatare operated to provide life-long learning, as well as a gender-sensitive drama series createdby Thai PBS. And finally from Vietnam, vocational training in the IT field to promote theeconomic independence of women was introduced.
As stated at the outset of this chapter, the environment that surrounds ICT and genderissues differs from one country to another. Nonetheless, the fact that deep-rooted beliefs ingender division of labor and male-dominated organizational culture stand in the way of
promoting women’s participation in society with the use of ICT indicates the presence ofcommon problems that transcend national boundaries and cultural differences. In order toovercome such challenges, a mechanism has to be built that drives society as a whole to

─7─



respect women’s human rights, and at the same time make visible and communicate theconcrete achievements of ICT-based support to women faced with challenges.

─8─

References
Kabeer, Naila, 1994, Reversed Realities Gender Hierarchies in Development Thought, Verso,
London.
行動する会記録集編集委員会編、1999 年、『行動する女たちが拓いた道 : メキシコ
からニューヨークへ 』、未来社
鈴木みどり、2005 年、「メディア・リテラシーとジェンダー」北九州市立男女共同参画センタームーブ編著『ジェンダー白書 3――女性とメディア』、明石書店
総務省、2014 年、『平成 26 年版 情報通信白書 ICT がもたらす世界規模でのパラダイムシフト』、総務省
谷岡理香、2011 年、「放送と女性の仕事」日本女性放送者懇談会編『放送ウーマンのいま――厳しくて面白いこの世界』ドメス出版、219-236 頁
日本 NGO レポートをつくる会、1999 年、『日本 NGO レポート 女性 2000 年会議に向けて』、日本 NGO レポートをつくる会
村松泰子・宮田加久子・中村昌子編著 江利川滋著、1997 年、『女性のパソコン利用と情報社会の展望』富士通ブックス
Primary Source
Yoko Kobayashi, “Initiative to Support Women’s Home-based Employment with the Use of
ICT,” lecture materials from the 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Leaders in
the Asia Pacific Region, National Women’s Education Center, 2014
小林洋子、2014 年、「ICT を活用した女性の在宅就業支援の取組み」、国立女性教育会館平成 26 年度アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画官・リーダーセミナー講義
資料
Internet Sources
日本女性学習財団、キーワード・用語解説 JJ ネット女性政策情報ネットワーク
http://www.jawe2011.jp/cgi/keyword/keyword.cgi?num=n000048&mode=detail&catlist=1&
onlist=1&shlist=1 (Accessed on December 20, 2014)

─9─



第 4 回世界女性会議 行動綱領（総理府仮訳)
http://www.gender.go.jp/international/int_standard/int_4th_kodo/index.html(Accessed on January 5, 2015)
三菱 UFJ リサーチ＆コンサルティング株式会社、『仕事と介護の両立に関する労働者アンケート調査(平成 24 年度厚生労働省委託調査)
http://www.stat.go.jp/data/roudou/rireki/gaiyou.htm(Accessed on January 5, 2015)-─ 10 ─

Cambodia


Chapter 2 Report from Cambodia
1.

Cambodia’s picture of gender in the ICT Era
Information, Communication Technology (ICT) is continually referred to as one ofthe defining features for economic and social development. It creates economic growth inemerging high profit markets, improves productivity in existing industries and sectors,
provides job opportunities, can improve levels of and access to essentials such as health care,and can promote networking, participation and advocacy in society. However it is also
recognized that it can also exacerbate existing gender inequalities, and has created a “gender
digital divide” in Cambodia, where women are less likely to benefit from the opportunities
that engaging with ICT can bring.
In Cambodia, tradition information and communication services are of poor quality.
Public postal services are unreliable, mass media reaches only 85% of the population andonly 3.96% of Cambodians have a fixed phone line. Despite this, Cambodians have been
embracing technology through other mechanisms. With the introduction of wirelessbroadband technologies, Cambodian’s have been moving towards mobile and internet
services at a rapid rate. Mobile phone usage is reported to have a 135% penetration rate, withover 1 million people subscribing to the mobile broadband in early 2014. Today, 2.5 million
people have internet access at home.
This boom in ICT development has not been evenly distributed through Cambodiansociety.

The emerging ICT industries have predominately been located in the capital,

Phnom Penh, and there is a significant divide between men and women engaging with thistechnology in both the economic and social spheres. There has been very little research
regarding women and ICT, however it is evident that ICT is not gender-neutral. 2005, Hor
Sophia from the University of Phnom Penh stated: "within the given social and economic
structure, gender roles and relations, women and men cannot get equal access to ICT”. The
lack of access to ICT because of societal, cultural and market constraints have led women to
become distant from the global pool of information and knowledge. Very little has changed
since 2005.
Worldwide, Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms, with over 1.35
billion people checking their account at least once a month. Over half of these users are─ 11 ─

Cambodia
women. According to “Geeks in Cambodia” as of June 4, 2014, Cambodia had 1,420,000
Facebook users, and it is the largest social media site in the country. 38% of Facebook users
are Cambodian women, well below the worldwide standard. Interestingly, the number one
interest on Facebook as ranked by Cambodians is technology, i.e. computers, mobile phones
and televisions and tablets.
In a study conducted by Open Institute in 2013, out of the surveyed 2000 Cambodian
people in rural and urban areas, 94.4% claimed to have their own phone(s). 87.1% of thewomen surveyed were found to own a phone, versus 95.1% of men.
In terms of education in Cambodia, there is gender parity in enrolment rates forprimary and lower secondary schools with 60% of children enrolled in lower secondary.
Statistics for completion of lower secondary education tell a different story, a story where thesocietal norms for young girls mean that completing education is not prioritized and women
either stay at home in caring roles or are forced to work to support the family. In 2014, it isexpected that 27% of girls will complete their lower secondary school compared to 44% ofboys. In upper secondary school, enrolment rates are 27% for girls and 32% for boys.
Introduction to ICT is only taught at upper secondary school, leaving only 27% of girls in
Cambodia who will receive any formal ICT training.
In tertiary education, according to a study conducted by Open Institute in 2010,40.19% of women were studying bachelor degrees, 19.24% enrolled in master’s degrees and5.57% of women were undertaking master’s degrees. 9.1% of women in 2009/2010 studied
ICT.

The survey, after focus group discussions with ICT students, found that womenchoose ICT studies less often than men for several reasons: they perceive that ICT jobs are
difficult and are often reserved for men only; they perceive that ICT is difficult to study
because of the mathematics involved, and because the field has too many areas of study; no
encouragement from the family; companies normally recruit only male staff; low interest in
studying ICT; Khmer cultural traditions (a mindset and traditional pressure that discourages
women from studying); a general opinion that ICT is only a job of repairing; it costs a lot ofmoney; and women have to do housework.
As can be seen by the table below, the gender divide is highlighted in the adultliteracy rates, and although it is evident that literacy rates are on the rise, the gender gap,
particularly in rural areas are still concerning. It is difficult to assume that the ICT revolution

─ 12 ─

Cambodia
will effect men and women equally given the disparity between the genders in all level of theeducation system.
Graph1: Adult Literacy Population aged 15 years and above per Gender andGeography (2008 - 2013)
2008

2013

AREA

Women

Men

Both Sexes

Women

Men

Both Sexes

TOTAL

70.9

85.1

77.6

73.6

86.4

79.7

URBAN

86.8

94.5

90.4

86.8

94.2

90.3

RURAL

66.3

82.5

74.0

69.7

84.1

76.5

Source: Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey 2013 (CIPS 2013)

The formal sector in Cambodia comprises all jobs with regular hours and wages, andin 2013 according to Cambodia Inter-Censal Population Survey, 17.9% of women worked inthis sector, whilst 26.1% of men had paid employment. 53% of women classified themselves
as unpaid family worker, compared to 23% of men.
A study on Women and ICT in Education and Employment in 2010 found that lessthan on quarter of Cambodian NGOs, 9% of Higher Education institutes, 14% of Internet
providers and 35% of government ministries have a policy implemented to encourage women
to build their own capacity in the ICT sector. According to MOWA et.al 2010, a similar
percentage of organizations and institutions are willing to design policies to encourage ICT
skills and capacity building for women.
The Cambodian picture of gender in the ICT era is one of inequality. The disparity
between men and women’s ability to learn, access and engage with technology is inherent in
Cambodian society. This is reflected in the formal education system, where completion rates
for young girls at upper secondary school are reported to be as low as 22%. Very few women
are taking up opportunity to gain the economic benefits of ICT by not enrolled in ICT related
university courses. Illiteracy rates are higher for women than men. For those women in theformal employment sector, the knowledge and use of ICT is limited and there a very few
organizational policies that encourage ICT skill development for women.
2.

Cambodian Policies and Laws on ITC
On June 26, 2014, the Royal Government of Cambodia approved the National

Strategic Development plan for 2014 - 2018, a blue print for economic policy. This document

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Cambodia
contains a full section dedicated to ICT and indicates the Governments desire to move
Cambodia to more knowledge based nation. It provides a framework for infrastructure
expansion, policy and regulation development, human resources and skill development.
The Policy document mentions they will foster the principles of gender equality, however itdoes not stipulate how.
At the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Sept.1995- Beijing Declaration
and Platform of Action: Women in media, two strategic objectives were delivered:Strategic objective J1: Increase the participation and access of women to expression anddecision-making in and through the media and new technologies of communication.
Actions to be taken.

Strategic objective J2: Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped portrayal of women in
the media. Actions to be taken.
In the Concluding Comment of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination

against women, article 38. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
women urges the State party to utilize fully in its implementation of its obligations under theConvention, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which reinforce the provisionsof the Convention, and requests the State party to include information thereon in its next
periodic report. Cambodia is a signatory to this convention, thus must be held accountable forits strategy and report against the actions taken.
Cambodia also has a draft National ICT Policy 2015 that clearly specifies theirsupport for Women in Development in the ICT sector. Within this policy framework, there ismuch support for gender equality, yet there is little evidence on how this is reflected in thereal world.
Unfortunately there are no consistent legal frameworks to govern the industry as awhole. In 2012, the Government established the Telecom Regulator of Cambodia charged
with overseeing the country’s telecom industry. Many laws have been drafted, by not enacted.
As yet, the Telecom Law has not been passed, so in the absence of laws, the sector isgoverned by decrees and sub-decrees issued by the Department and the prime ministers
officer. Specific laws on Cyber-crime and e-Commerce are deemed necessary, however─ 14 ─

Cambodiahave not been adopted. There is also little evidence of the how these laws reflect gendersensitivity and equality.

3.

Best PracticeBest practice involving women and ICT in Cambodia has been the involvement inTake Back the Tech initiative. The Open Institute in cooperation with the Association for
Progressive Communications (APC) and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, have since 2006
been actively involved in this strategy creating awareness of how information andcommunication technologies are connected to violence against women. The program recently
won global acclaim for its efforts to reduce threats online and building women’s confidence
and security in the use of ICT, winning first place in Gender Equality Mainstreaming Technology the ITU-UN awards.
The campaign calls on all ICT users -especially women and girls - to take control oftechnology and use activism against gender-based violence. The project encouraged,
facilitated and strengthened:The use of ICTs to enhance interventions by women's rights organizations to address
different forms of violence against women and girlsThe application of ICTs for work focused on the healing of women victims/survivors ofviolence

The provision of small grants for women victims/survivors of violence to increase
visibility of their issues and enable them to participate in combating VAWEfforts to address new forms of violence against women and girls facilitated through theinternet, mobile phones and other emerging technologies



Advocacy towards better formulation and implementation of rights based ICT policies
that impact on violence against women and girls.
A Facebook account called Cambodia TBTT has been created in Khmer language

and it has over 1,299 friends. The TBTT Twitter account has over 1900 followers. Articles
are regularly posted informing people of issues on the prevention of violence against women─ 15 ─

Cambodiaand giving women the opportunity to voice their opinions and ideas regarding human rights
and advocacy.
This advocacy strategy has very attractive campaign materials, with the use ofbanners, stickers, digital stories and icons. It has allowed Open Institute to incorporate thisbranding in most of their events, (over 1000 young people have been involved in training
over the past year) and has attracted significant attention to women using ICT to end violenceagainst women. It was used in International Women’s Day, and will be incorporated into the
16 Day Campaign on 25th November until 10th December 2014 in cooperation with UN
Women Cambodia.
It is a simple strategy that works. Its attractive marketing engages women to get
involved with ITC as a tool for advocacy effectively empowering women and girls throughskills, knowledge, advocacy and community-building.

4.

Issues and Challenges
The growth in influence of ICT has created many issues and challenges for womenin Cambodia, as they struggle to embrace the economic and social advantages of ICT. The
three most significant challenges of the gender digital divide is:1.

the cultural norms of Cambodian society, where women are the most impoverished withthe least access to resources and with little control over decisions that affect their lives;2.

the lack of women with decision making influence; and3.

the emergence of a new avenue for violence against women.
Social norms in Cambodia are a significant challenge for women accessing ICT andenjoying the economic benefit of the sector. In an impoverished country, boys are targetedover girls by families as a priority for education as many young girls drop out of formal
education to support their families in either the caring or financial role. It is a hierarchal
society where men are valued more highly then women and there are persistent gender power
imbalances that lead to poverty, illiteracy and gender discrimination.
In the research conducted by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the Ministry of
Education, Youth, and Sport and the Open Institute in 2010, some 66% of respondents stated─ 16 ─

Cambodiathat women have to take more responsibility for their family than men; 64% think that mostparents provide more support to men than women for higher education. About 60% think thatpolicies and policy implementation are also obstacles. Other responses include: language(57%), limited ICT infrastructure (53%), cost of internet access (52%), “technology is too
modern” (40%), obstacles erected by social norms and culture (31%) and women are notencouraged by their superiors to participate in ICT (26%).
There is a complex relationship between ICT and violence against women that iswell documented, and often a difficult for policy makers and advocates to grapple with. In
many ways, ICT is a valuable tool in preventing violence against women through advocacy
and empowerment. Women and women’s networks and organizations worldwide are using
online resources, websites and chat rooms to share experiences, mobilize support for specificactions or to develop global action strategies to end violence against women. However, ICT
has also facilitated a new form of violence against women with cyber stalking and online
harassment. This involves mobile text message monitoring, intimate photos and video
blackmail, mobile phone and email account tracking. Traffickers are also using the Internet tocommunicate and recruit victims, and private home videos are also being commercialized.
The growth of the Internet tends to push the limits of a society's attitudes towards acceptable
media images and technology is moving across boundaries faster than the law can address.
This is not a phenomenon unique to Cambodia, and a challenge for society ingeneral. However in Cambodia, with the gender imbalance that is innate in society, together
with the gender divide regarding access to ICT as already discussed, this is a challenge that
advocacy groups, government and Cambodian society as a whole must address.
The third significant challenge for women and ICT in Cambodia is the lack ofwomen in decision-making and power roles in Government. Women represent approximately
14.7% of the senate, and 20.32% of members of parliament 20.32% There are 13.9%
women judges, 10.2% Women Prosecutors and women constitute 22.1% of Court Clerks.
There have been no Provincial Governors and only 14.3% of Deputy Governors in 2013 are
women. These needs to be seen in the light of 52% of the population are women.
Without effective representation of women in decision-making roles, active
engagement in the gender digital divide will remain problematic. Advocacy groups are active

─ 17 ─

Cambodia
in building relationships with decision makers, but until they are physically represented, there
will continue to be inequities and inactivity in gender related issues.

5.

Policy Recommendations:

ICT is integrated into lower secondary school to ensure that young girls locked out ofsenior schooling have some level of ICT education.

Stronger commitment of the government, donor agencies and civil society forsupporting consultative meetings for the integration of gender sensitiveness in national
policy and action plans such as National ICT Policy 2015 Neary Ratanak, National
Action Plan to Prevent VAW, National Strategy Development Plan; as well as support
for Women in Development of sectoral ICT Policy.

Stronger commitment of government in nomination more women to take decision maker
post in ICT development sector.

To add “Women in ICT Development” in the Joint Indicator Matrix of Cambodia
Development Council. This will then ensure this as a measurable outcome for theGovernment.

Stronger cooperation between the government and UN Women and with other donor
agencies for the implementation of the UN CEDAW Concluding Observation point 19 c.
about “…to explore the use of ICT for women rights and gender equality.”Stronger commitment of the government and donor countries for the implementation of
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing 2004) about women and media.



Tough laws and regulations must be adopted and enforced to protect vulnerable womenand children from exploitation via ICT. Training and education needs to fund regarding
safe and informative ways to explore the internet and how to avoid on-line dangers.



From learning from the NWEC, more research needs to be conducted around gender andits impact in Cambodian society. A similar model to the NWEC should be established in
Phnom Penh. This could become a central depository for research and development
regarding all issues pertaining to women. It will enable women’s advocacy groups to─ 18 ─

Cambodiameet, discuss and collaborate on gender topics and create a space for open dialogue topromote a gender-equality society.

─ 19 ─

KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Ms. Chim Manavy
Ms. Keo Vathna
Cambodia
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

1- Overview of Cambodia• Official name: Kingdom of Cambodia• Official Language: Khmer• Total area: 181,035 km2• 24 Provinces• 1 Capital : Phnom Penh
• Population :14.86 millions• Women : 52%• Density: 75 people/km2 (2008)• GDP : 760$ (2008), approximately 1000$(2012)• Currency Riel (KHR)
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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2

2- Gender Equality Policy
National Frameworks for Gender Equality (I)Constitution of Cambodia: Adopted in 1993
• It states that “men and women have equal rights before the law andenjoy equal participation in political, economic, social and cultural life;
equality in marriage and family; employment and equal pay for the samework. It also includes measures to prevent and eliminate of all forms of
discrimination and exploitation of women”.
National Strategic Development Plan and Rectangular Strategy for Growth,
Employment, Equity and Efficiency, Phase II•

Aim at reducing gender disparities in all development sectors and theneed to put in place effective measures to remove barriers that womenface, and increase opportunities for women to fully participate andbenefit from development.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

3

National Frameworks for Gender Equality (II)Cambodia Millennium Development Goals•

CMDG 3 focuses on promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of
women through reducing gender gaps in education at all levels, increasing
women’s participation in government and ensuring equal wages between men
and women.

The Five-Years Strategic Plan For Gender Equality and Women‘s
Empowerment 2014-2018 (Neary Rattanak IV)•

Strategic areas:•

1. Economic Empowerment of Women•

2. Education of Women and Girls, Attitudes and Behavior change•

3. Legal Protection of Women and Girls•

4. Health and Nutrition of Women and Girls, and HIV/AIDS•

5. Women in Public Decision‐making and Politics•

6. Women in Climate Change and green growth•

7. Women and Disabilities

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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4

National Women’s Machineries•

Ministry of Women’s Affairs•

Cambodian National Council for Women•

Other Mechanisms for Gender Equality•

Gender Action Groups and Gender Action Plans from Line
Ministries•

Women’s and Children’s Committees (at sub-national level)

International Frameworks for Gender Equality
1.

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)

2.

Millennium Development Goals for 2015

3.
4.

Conference on Population and Development El Cairo (1994)
Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW, 1979) : Signed and ratified by Cambodia in 1992.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

5

3. Current Situation for Gender Equality in Cambodia• Education

Educational level

Percentage

Primary and Lower Secondary
Upper Secondary Education

Gender parity index achieved
Ratio of girls to boys is 72.9 (CMDG
target is 100)

Tertiary Education​bachelor degree 40.19%
master degrees 19.24%
undertaking a PhD 5.56%[Data from academic year 2011-2012, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport]

Economic sector

Women presenting in formal sector

27 % (men: 73%)

Women presenting in informal sector

82 %[Data from CSES 2009]
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 22 ─

6

National level

Politics and Decision Making

Parliamentarians in
National Assembly
Senators
Deputy Prime Ministers
Ministers
Secretaries of State
Public Civil Servants

25 of 123

20.32%

9 of 61
1 of 93 of 28
38 of 185
70,526 of 192,029

14.75%
11%
10.71%
20.54%
37%

Politics and Decision Making

Subnational level

Provincial Governors
Provincial Deputy Governors
District Governors
District Deputy Governors:
Commune Council members
Commune/Sangkat Chiefs

no women20%
1 %(2 female district governors)
29 %17.78%
5.8%

Data from the National Elections Committee 2012
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

7• Health
median age at first marriage among
womenMedian age of first sexual intercourse
for womenmaternal deaths

20 years ( men: 23 years)

women report having one or more
problems in accessing health care72%

women aged 15-49 years using amethod of family planning

31%

women aged 15-49 years having
abortion

at least 1 abortion of 6 % women inurban areas, while 5 % in rural areas

21 years old ( while for men is 22 years)
206 per 100,000 live births in 2010 (ratedecreased almost 60 percent in only five
years, between 2005 and 2010 [DHS2005 and 2010]).

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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8

4. Overview of ICTs: Media and Gender in the country• 4.1: Women in Media:• The Women´s Media Centre of Cambodia (WMC 2005)
survey found that women are a minority across all media
sectors, comprising 17% of those in journalism, 21% intechnical roles and in 28% in administrative positions.
• No statistics are available from the Ministry of Information(MoI) on the number of female journalists in Cambodia,
according to WMC. However, the WMC 2005 survey
covered 145 media organizations and reported the total
number of people working in media and media related
fields as 4,623 with 79% males (3,652) and 21% females(971). among 137 journalists whose positions were decision
makers only 6% were female.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

9

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• 4.2: Women in ICT :Women and ICT status in Cambodia
The lack of access to ICT because of societal, cultural and market constraints
have led women to become distant from the global pool of information andknowledge.
Reasons for less representation of women holding jobs in ICT fields include
lower percentage of female student's enrollment in IT related education.
• 4.3 ICT Policy
The National Summit on ICT Policy and Strategy took place on 3 July 2003 to
involve key actors to determine a draft of National ICT Policy.
NIDA proposal for National ICT Policy for 2015 included the creation of legal
framework, ICT services, to develop a knowledge based system, ICT accesspoints, reduce public administration cost, ICT4D that support Women In
Development (WID) in the ICT sector.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 24 ─

10

4.Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)

11

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:

Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Sept.1995- Beijing
Declaration and Platform of Action: Women in media

Strategic objective J1: Increase the participation and access of
women to expression and decision-making in and through themedia and new technologies of communication. Actions to betaken.
Strategic objective J2:Promote a balanced and non-stereotyped
portrayal of women in the media. Actions to be taken.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 25 ─

12

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• 56th UN CEDAW session in Geneva from 30 Sept-18 Oct, 2013

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

13

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• Concluding Observation of the Committee on the Elimination ofDiscrimination against women ( CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/4-5 A , Geneva 18
October 2013 )NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 26 ─

14

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• International Instruments: Gender and ICT4D:• Gender and ICT4D-Concluding Observation of the Committee
on the Elimination of Discrimination against women( CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/4-5 A , Geneva 18 October 2013 )• Article 19. The Committee reiterates its previous
recommendation (CEDAW/C/KHM/CO/3, para. 18) andrecommends that the State party:• (c) Explore the use of information communication
technologies, including social media, in the dissemination of
information on women’s rights and gender equality;
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

15

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)• Women & ICT in Education (MoWA Research 2010)
The total of female who get the bachelor degree of ICT in thelast four years'2005 to 2009' was 12.4% of total student in ICT if
comparing with 8.4% of the proportional of female students
who has been studying ICT of the 1st year to the 4th year of theyear 2009-2010 .
• Women & ICT in Employment
Women & ICT in The proportional of women in ICT' jobs:• The percentage of women can use ICT in civil society is
44.4% of total staff• In government and ministries is 15.5%,• Internet Provider is 32.5% and Education institution is 33.3%.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 27 ─

16

4. Overview of ICTs Media and gender in the country(cont.)

Result of the Research (MoWA 2010).
Only less than 1/4 of NGOs (22.5%), 9% of HE institutes, 14% of
ISPs and 35% of government ministries have a policy
implemented to encourage women to build their own capacity
in the ICT sector.
This status will not have much changed in the near future
because for the rest of them, there are only 23% of NGOs, 41%of government ministries, 21% of ISPs 21%, and 21% HE
institutes are willing to design a policy to encourage ICT skills &capacity building for women (MOWA et.al 2010).
17

Consultative meetings of NGOs to promote theintegration of Gender Perspective in ICT Policy
Development.

18

─ 28 ─

5. Case Analysis:• Story Telling 1

Ms. Chea Sipheng, Second Assistant of Chiefof Kor Ki Sangkat, Phnom Penh had
commitment to learn how citizen journalist
and ICT were interested in her work.

She initially engaged political activists of
Human Rights to help people to solve
problems so it made her more popular inpolitics until she became the Second
Assistant to the Chief Commune. During
the election she was battled by many
men’s advocacy efforts, but she still
received her position as intended. She
was delighted that Open Instituteprovides the opportunity to attend
training and added that she was notaware of media practices and did notknow how to write news any way until
she received the appropriate training.

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

19

5. Case Analysis: (Cont.)• Story Telling 2

1. Miss. Keang Hy, became a strong
facilitator in a youth club

My name is Keang Hy, 26 years
old; I live in house number 20D,
Street Veng Sreng, Sangkat Choam
Chao, Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh.
After I got involved with Open
Institute, “it made me got wellcommunication with the other,
improve and building my ability,
participate in helping social, could
sharing information through theuse Facebook and email, knew
aboutsocialaccountability
meaning…”. I have become afacilitator at in National Youth
Senate’s KYSD.

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 29 ─

20

6. Best practices:
Take Back The Techmodel to use ICT
for discussion anddissemination of
informationon
women right andeVAWMedia monitoringfor ending VAW

The Integration of gender sensitive in the draft of National ICT Policy 2015.
Integration of the promotion of the use of ICT and media in Neary Ratanak
and National Action Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women (NAPVAW).
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

21

NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region22─ 30 ─NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region23

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in accessto ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• 7.1. The challenges of women in ICT4 development:
Family responsibility such as take care husband, children, elderly person infamily (66%).
Female get less opportunities than male in getting chance to study more
(64%).
State policy and sectoral implementation (60%), Language (57%).
Infrastructure (53%), High cost of Internet (52%)• 7.2.Challenging: VAW&ICT:
However, Women are concerned about the new form of VAW:
Some groups of people have been using ICTs for other purpose that against
women rights. Negative portrayal of women.
The growth of Internet tends to push the limits of a society's attitudes
towards acceptable media images.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

─ 31 ─

24

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in accessto ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• 7.2. Challenging: VAW&ICT: (cont.)
Technology is moving across boundaries faster than the law can address. Thisis a blurred line between freedom of information and cultural preservation• 7.3. Government Policy
Since 2005 the Ministry of Information has set some rules for all media
organizations advising and reminding them to respect the press law Chapter
2, Article 7 that states “Publication of obscene texts or pictures or graphicallyviolent materials is prohibited.”
During the Annual Cambodian National Council for Women Meeting (NWC) in2007, the Prime Minister recommended that the Ministry of Interior close
facilities which show or sell obscene films.
Advocacy for improving the portrayal of women in themedia should be
stepped up and continued, as there is still much progress to be madeNWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region25

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations• Stronger commitment of the government, donor agencies
and civil society for supporting consultative meetings for the
integration of gender sensitiveness in National ICT Policy
2015 and beyond; as well as support for the development ofsectoral ICT Policy.
• Stronger commitment of government in nomination more
women to take decision maker post in ICT development
sector.
• Stronger commitment of the government and donor support
for the integration of women in ICT development in national
policy and action plan such as Neary Ratanak, National Action
Plan to Prevent VAW, National Strategy Development Plan.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

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26

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations• To add “ women in ICT development” in Joint Indicator Matrixof Cambodia Development Council.
• Stronger cooperation between the government and UN
Women and with other donor agencies for the
implementation of the UN CEDAW Concluding Observation
point 19 c. about “…to explore the use of ICT for womenrights and gender equality.”• Stronger commitment of the government and donor
countries for the implementation of Beijing Declaration andPlatform for Action (Beijing 2004) about Women and Media.
NWEC 2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

27

Thank you!

28

─ 33 ─

India

Chapter 3 Report from India
1.

Introduction:
As the seventh largest country with a population of 1.2 billion, India is a land ofcontradiction; while on one hand fewer girl children thrive, as compared to their malecounterparts (Sex ratio of 940 women for every 1000 men, and even lower child sex ratio of
914 girls children per 1000 male children), on the other life expectancy for women is morethan men (women=62.7 years; men = 61 years)1. On one hand India is increasingly seen as an
economic force to reckon with, on the other girls/women still face discrimination in theiraccess to education (female literacy= 65.5%; male literacy= 82.1%) and participation in
workforce, as only approximately 24% of women are included in workforce. Although as per
constitutional amendment (2010), women’s representation is stipulated in parliament andstate assemblies, only for 11% of the total representatives in upper and lower houses ofParliament are women.
Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector’s contribution to the nation’s
GDP has shown an increase of 4.1% from 2001 to 2012. The benefits of the IT boom
however are unevenly distributed among men and women. The situation of women in
ICT-sector employment in India mirrors the trends at the global level, where women havebeen found to account for, “30 per cent of operations technicians, only 15 per cent ofmanagers and a mere 11 per cent of strategy and planning professionals”2
While overall penetration of telephones quite high, the distribution is skewed. It is tobe noted that while 68.8% of Indians live in rural areas, the reach and use of ICT favours
urban locations and men in particular3. A mere 30% of the 893.3 million mobile subscribers
are women, another 20% are “borrowers” of mobile through family and of the 238.7 million

1

Census of India 2011
Tandon, N. (2012) 'A Bright Future in ICTs: Opportunities for a New Generation of Women'. Information
Telecommunication Union Girls in ICT, Retrieved:
http://girlsinict.org/sites/default/files/pages/itu_bright_future_for_women_in_ict-english.pdf 4
October 20143
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, 2010 http://www.trai.gov.in accessed August 1, 20142

─ 34 ─

India
4internet subscribers a meager 10% are women . The disparity in ‘connectivity’ accessible
to Indians is unequal, which can be said to be a reflection of need for infrastructuredevelopment and shifting priorities. Overall the International Telecommunications Union, in
its 'Measuring the Information Society' Report of 2013, places India in the category of theWorld's 'Least Connected Countries' based on a composite measure of ICT access, ICT use
and ICT skills.
2.

Media and Gender
The Census of India, 2011 reveals that 47.2% households have and use televisionsets, only 19.9% use radios. Thus television is preferred source of information for most.
The Indian print media currently include over 69,323 registered newspapers and periodicals,
according to the latest figures on the website of the Registrar of Newspapers for India(updated up to 31 March 20085). The total circulation of newspapers in 2007-08 was over
200 million copies (207,108,115). Indian publications appear in as many as 101 languages
and dialects. There are over 500 registered television channels in India (503, according to theJanuary-March 2010 quarterly report of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India6 . At
least 100 more are reportedly awaiting permission to uplink or downlink. As mentioned
earlier, radio news is still restricted to the state/public broadcaster, All India Radio, since thegovernment does not permit other radio service providers – private or community based – tobroadcast news and current affairs. The growing private FM radio sector is at present almost
exclusively devoted to entertainment (largely popular music) and community radio is still in
the process of establishing itself in the media environment.
A comparative analysis of portrayal of women in media across 15 countries
including India found that in India on any given day, women constitute only 22% of the news
subjects across all topic categories. Women featured in only 18% of the subjects in politicalstories and an abysmally low 10% in stories relating to the economy. Whereas just five
percent of news stories highlighted gender equality/inequality related stories. Nearly two
4

5
6

GSMA Development Fund and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. (2010). Women and Mobile—A
Global Opportunity: A Study on the mobile phone gender gap in low and middle-income countries.
London: GSMA.
Website of the Registrar of Newspapers for India: http://rni.nic.in/
Website of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: http://www.trai.gov.in/ accessed June 10, 2014

─ 35 ─

India

thirds (63 per cent) of the news stories from the Indian media reinforced gender stereotypes
while only nine per cent challenged them. In contrast, globally less than half (46 per cent) of
the news stories reinforced stereotypes. Men vastly outnumbered women among reporters
across all media and all news topics.
Less than half the presenters and announcers on Indian radio and television were
women. About a third (34 per cent) of the news stories in the print media and less than half
(43 per cent) of the stories on TV were reported by women. Similarly, several popular
television programs and television advertisements reinforce stereotypical gender roles for
women. For example women are often portrayed as being “Naari” (faithful, obedient,
non-assertive woman), the virtue of being “fair” is over emphasized in numerous
advertisements. Compared to men, women appear more often for household products andpersonal or beauty products and were less likely to be shown as being employed than men.7
With the increasing access to internet, women have greater opportunity to connect tothe global world, learn about opportunities, socialize with others, using social media such as
Facebook, Twitter etc. However, this has also led to increased vulnerability of women to be
victims of cyber violence against women have been reported in media in the form of cyberstalking, phishing, issuing threats of violence and revenge porno etc. Cybercrime against
women in India is relatively a new concept. There are yet no reliable estimates of rates ofcybercrimes against women, as fewer women report such crimes, as most of the cybercrimes
remain unreported due to the hesitation and shyness of the victim and her fear of defamationof family’s name. Many times she believes that she herself is responsible for the crime doneto her. The women are more susceptible to the danger of cybercrime as the perpetrator’s
identity remains anonymous and he may constantly threaten and blackmail the victim withdifferent names and identities. Historically, when India started ventured in the field ofInformation Technology, the primary security concern addressed under the Information
Technology Act, 2000 was the protection of electronic commerce (e-commerce) andcommunications, whereas cyber socializing communications and related human rights
violations haven’t been addressed.8

7

Who Makes the News : India Global Media Monitoring Project-National Report. 2010).

─ 36 ─

India

3.

Policies and Laws on ICTs
The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution of India. National

Commission of Women was set-up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 and a further amendment
led to their increased participation in decision making at various levels. Taking a step further
India has ratified the CEDAW in 1993.
The National Commission for Empowerment of Women was set up in 2010 with thefollowing objectives in mind:-

To eliminate violence against women (VAW)-

Social empowerment of women with emphasis on health and education-

Gender mainstreaming of policies and programs-

Create awareness amongst beneficiaries-

Work on advocacy
The current 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) includes a Working Group on

Information Technology Sector which has identified e-learning, ICT skill development,
development of rural connectivity infrastructure, development of local language content,
ICT-enabled health services and financial inclusion through ICT technology as key elements
for utilizing the ICT potential for social inclusion.
Although India does not have a comprehensive ICT policy, ICT is well ensconced in
the various initiatives undertaken across ministries as well as by many Non-government
Organizations; these have been either as Public Private Partnerships (PPP) or standalone
initiatives. Successful examples of which are seen in the sectors of health, governance,
education etc.

8Jeet, S., (2012). Cyber crimes against women in India Information Technology Act, 2000. Elixir Criminal
Law, 48, pp. 8891-8895.

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India

Laws on ICTs
The legal provisions which are presently available to challenge acts of violence are“strongly influenced by existing laws on indecency and obscenity, ill-defined as they are”.
These include the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, and Section 67 A
and Section 67 B of the Information Technology Act that deal with cyber-pornography andchild pornography respectively. Additionally, Section 66 A of the Information Technology
Act provides for punishment for communication made via computer or other devices which
may be “grossly offensive,” have a “menacing character,” or even cause “annoyance orinconvenience”.

4.

Best Practices
India has acknowledged the potential of ICTs in development and has initiated many

programs that use ICT to leverage access and usage of services. These programs fall largely
under the areas of health, e-governance, education and economic empowerment. A few
examples are cited in the following sections:4.1. E-governance:
The National E-governance Plan (NeGP), through its 31 Mission Mode Projects,
aims at developing a country-wide infrastructure reaching to the remotest village, forfacilitating single-window, one-stop, public service delivery to all citizens and the large scale
digitization of records, to enable easy interaction between citizens and government, over theInternet. The connectivity infrastructure envisioned by the NeGP consists of a country-wide
network of ICT enabled kiosks called the 'Common Service Centers' under which
ICT-enabled single window service delivery centers are proposed to be set up in every Gram
Panchayat (the smallest unit of local governance in India) of the country through a public
private partnership model involving various kinds of partnership agreements between village
level entrepreneurs, private companies and government agencies; as well as ElectronicService Delivery Gateways9 and State-Wide Area Networks. This connectivity infrastructureis envisioned as a platform for digitized public service delivery, the back-end for which is9

See https://nsdg.gov.in/administration/aboutus.jsp for details.

─ 38 ─

India

expected to be a readied by a range of Central, State-Led and Integrated Mission Mode
Projects10.
With the efforts of the Department of Information and Technology, Government ofIndia the following initiatives have been rolled out under the NeGP:a) The Launch of Mobile Seva: An Unique Country-wide initiative to provide
public services to citizens through mobile phones and hand-held devices,
through which 200 different services of 444 departments have been offered.
b)

Pilot project covering 59 panchayats in three blocks in three states on using the
hi-speed connectivity of National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) for delivery of
public servicesc)

The launch of the 'Open Government Platform' developed in collaboration with
the United States, intended to enhance access and use of government data forinnovation; government transparency, accountability and public participation.

d)

The launch of 'Data Portal India' to function as a single access point for open
government data sets across the country in multiple topics.

The CSC schemes have been used as a means to address women’s empowerment,
where women are encouraged to operate the CSC kiosks. For example, in the state of Kerala,
the CSC scheme, is operated by women who are Village Level Entrepreneurs to run the
single window service delivery centers.

While studies have found that this model ofintegrating gender in e-governance has significant gains for the women entrepreneurs, it
could not address issues of gender barriers to access CSCs.
Another model to overcome the barriers aforementioned, was overcome in an
innovative model of integrating gender in CSCs is in Delhi. In this model,agovernment-NGO-community partnership model was tested, wherein the State Governmentof Delhi, local NGOs with grassroots presence and urban slum communities focuses on

10

Prime Minister's Office (2013),PM Reviews National e-governance Plan, Retrieved:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=96938 13 April 2014 ;and http://ogpl.gov.in/;

http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2014/feb/20/india-launches-improved-open-government-pla
tform/ on 2nd August 2014

─ 39 ─

India

targeted service delivery through a network of pre-existing gender resource centers managed
by the NGOs on the ground. The rationale guiding the project was that the NGOs operating
the Gender Resource Centers were already sensitive to the local context, aware of genderbarriers and needs to overcome these and therefore were more invested in addressing
community needs. The choice of these gender resources centers ensured smooth processingof information requests and entitlement claims and enables women to access CSCs.11

4.2.

ICT- in Health:
Although the economic prowess of India is growing consistently, still India’sranking is among the bottom five countries, with the lowest public health spending world
over, accounting for nearly 21% of the global disease burden. A World Bank reportpublished in 2010 estimates that India is annually losing over 6% of its Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) due to the premature deaths and preventable illnesses. Indian healthcare
sector is still suffering on account of underfunding and poor governance, which have led to
substantial inequities in basic healthcare provisions. Following women centered innovations
and interventions are just a few that have been planned both by Government and its partners
to improve the health parameters of women.
4.2.a. Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS): Mother and Child Tracking System(MCTS) is a name based tracking system, launched by the Government of India in 2009as an innovative application of information technology directed towards improving thehealth care service delivery system and strengthening the monitoring mechanism for
women’s health. MCTS is designed to capture information on and track all pregnant
women and children (0-5 Years) so that they receive ‘full’ maternal and child healthservices and thereby contributes to the reduction in maternal, infant and child morbidity
and mortality.
A total of 2,18,22,364 pregnant women have been registered in MCTS during
2013-2014 (as on 11th June, 2014) which indicates a registration of 73 % as against
11

Gurumurthy, A., & Chami N. April 2014- Digital Technologies and Gender Justice in India- An analysis
of key policy and programming concerns Input to the High Level Committee on the Status of Women inIndia─ 40 ─

India

estimated number of pregnant women in 2013-2014. A total of 1,80,67,874 children havebeen registered in MCTS during 2013-2014 as on 11th June, 2014, which indicates aregistration of 67% as against estimated number of infants in 2013-2014.
The MCTS software sends reminders to the Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs) or
ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) on the various treatments to be availed by the
expecting mothers having mobile phones. Once a mother receives her immunization, ANMs
have to send the details to the MCTS service through an SMS. After the enrolment, every
expectant mother receives SMS regarding their next immunization and checkup dates. It isabsolute essential that all ANMs start upload the service delivery data in near real-time. In
order to facilitate this near real-time data updation by ANMs “Unstructured Supplementary
Service Data (USSD)” based service has been enabled for MCTS data updation .
4.2.b. Mobile Kunji : Mobile Kunji is a unique model AV job aid designed for the Frontline
Health Workers (FLHWs). Forty phone –sized card are illustrated with key messages onfamily health, family planning, pregnancy, post-natal care and childcare up to two yearsof age. The number of cards is flexible and can vary with the State’s specific healthneeds. Each of these messages is accessible by a unique toll free seven digit mobile codethat can be dialed directly by the FLHW from her mobile to share the information withthe beneficiary. It can be carried at all times and does not need a smart phone to accessthis service, thus making this a low end technology for high-end gains project. This
project is run as a partnership between State Government, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) and BBC Media Action. Since its inception in 2012, 89171 users
have accessed 21,32,420 minutes of information on the mobile phone. Under the
program, 200.000 FLHWs have been trained use of this mobile application. It iscurrently running in large parts of three states of India. Government may plan toscale-up this intervention in the coming year if the intervention shows positive results.
4.2.c. Mobile Academy:

Mobile Academy is an innovation to use mobile technology thatis handset independent; audio based, accessed via a simple voice call and helps to train
FLHWs to deliver life-saving information to beneficiaries. It is a highly subsidized, but
paid initiative that costs FLHWs a mere Rs 100 (¥200 approx) for the entire training. It
is an IVR based programme providing voice lectures and quizzes over 190 minutes forknowledge enhancement of the FLHWs. The training broadly covers topics on: maternal

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India

health, family planning, child health, immunization to name a few. On successful
completion of the training, FLHWs take a tele-exam and are awarded a ‘Certificate’ by
senior government officials, which go a long way to improve their self-esteem andposition in their community. To date more than 39,000 workers are trained and havereceived certificates under this program.

5.

Issues and Challenges:
ICTs have been acknowledged as potent tools for development, but there are

multiple challenges to successfully use ICTs for gender and development. These issues andchallenges range broadly from contextual factors like unequal gender-norms that hinder
women’s access and control of ICTs that make it difficult for ICTs to be maximize its reachand effectiveness, to policy level issues like absence of comprehensive policies to makeprovisions of infrastructure development to facilitate penetration of ICTs. Some specificissues and challenges are pointed below:Lack of a clear National Policy for promoting ICT for development of women.



Setting up and maintenance costs of ICT structures are major deterrents in its
nation-wide expansion

Poor ICT infrastructure: given the magnitude of need for ICT, adequate
infrastructure in form of availability of computer systems, affordable internet, andlow bandwidth are not available.



Lack of trained personnel to manage and use ICT in terms of numbers and quality



Lack of basic infrastructure like electricity, telephone lines etc.



Poor female literacy, combined with poverty, skewed gender roles makes access to
ICTs a major stumbling block for women

Women are perceived as mere ‘consumers’ of ICT rather than producers or decisions
makers in ICT sector

Being a patriarchal society decisions and access regarding women’s participation in
ICT initiatives are often controlled by the ‘others’ in their family.

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India

6.

Policy Recommendations:
While the need for a comprehensive ICT policy foregrounds all ICT interventions,

keeping women and gender issues central across all ICT based development programs needs
to be underscored in all policy and programs using ICTs.
Government to frame a national ICT Policy with special focus on inclusion of
women as active agents of change.



Review existing ICT related laws from a gender perspective to ensure protection of
women, as well as safe guard their interests and rights.



Policy measures to outline guidelines for data sharing, storage, access andconfidentiality in various ICT and development interventions.



Government to advocate proportionate representation of women at all levels in ICT
sector aiming at increase in uptake of ICT-related education and employment.



Government to felicitate successful women-led ICT initiatives on a National/Statelevel to inspire more women-led entrepreneurial innovations.



Government in collaboration with women’s groups to develop gender sensitive
content for ICT initiatives in various ministries/departments

All ICT interventions to be made available in the vernacular languages to increase
access and use.



Government to formulate policy to carry out continuous media surveillance tomonitor harmful effects of stereotyping of women.
ICTs have tremendous potential to strengthen women’s political and social identity

and stimulate far-reaching ICTs-induced structural transformations. The responsibility andopportunity to exploit the potential of ICT and gender, rests equally with governments andpolicy makers of the country by making gender inclusive policies and with existing national
women’s machineries and women’s groups to acquaint themselves with digital environs andensure that ICTs do not become ‘tokenistic’ but are transformative to lives of women.

─ 43 ─

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Dr Zoya Ali Rizvi ＆Dr Priti Prabhughate
India

1. Country Profile• Is the 7th largest country
in the world• 2nd most populous• Has an area of 3,287,263
sq km• Has 29 states and 7 union
territories• Fourth largest reserve ofcoal in the world, iron ore,manganese etc• 48.8% of the land isarable• Indus Valley Civilization
the first major Indian
civilization existed from3000 to 1300 BC• The name 'India' isderived from the RiverIndus
2

─ 44 ─

Gender in Context• India is a predominant patriarchal society with hegemonic
norms around gender roles, socialization of men andwomen and rigid expectations from each gender.
• India has in recent years witnessed rapid economic growthwith concomitant rise in urbanization and shifts in values
and norms relating to marriage, relationship and women's
status in particular.
• Yet we contradictory trends.
For eg Khap Panchyat

3

Country Profile contd

India is home to 1210 million people; of which women are approx
587 million

Source: www. censusindia.gov.in/4

─ 45 ─

2. Gender Equality Policy• Creating a suitable environment for women through positive
economic and social policies .
• The de-facto enjoyment by women of all human rights andfundamental freedom in all spheres – political, economic, social,
cultural and civil• Equal access to participation and decision making• Equal access for women to health care, education, career andvocational guidance, employment, social security and public officeetc.
• Strengthening legal systems -elimination of all forms of
discrimination and violence against women and girl child• Changing societal attitudes and community practices• Mainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process• Building and strengthening partnerships within civil society
5

3.Current Situation of Gender Equality in the county• India is home to more than 1.2 billion people (women make up
almost a half (48.4%)• Life expectancy for women is 62.7 yr as compared to 61yr inmen• Literacy Rate for women is 65.5% while for men it is 82.1%• The Gross Enrolment Rate for Sec and Higher Sec School is
41.4%• In 2009-10 Universities had 41.4% students as girls• Women make up 25-30% of the workforce in the rural and 1518% in the urban settings.
• Representation of women in Village Panchayats is 37%• India ranked 111th with 62 women parliamentarians sitting in
the Lok Sabha, a small 11.4 per cent of the total 545 MPs**
6

Source: www. censusindia.gov.in/─ 46 ─

4. Overview of ICTs・Media and Gender in the country
Developments in Communication Technologies
Reduced Geographical Barriers

Enormously enhanced the capacity toaccumulate and access information

Media becomes indispensible in our lives
BUT
THIS IS UNEQUAL ;WITH BIAS TOWARDS WOMEN• Lack of women in media/ ICT administrative posts• Lack of women in technical development and decision making areas• Very few women as producers of information or networking resources
Very reduced possibilities of orienting
technology to address their specific needs

7

Overview contd• ICT industry has contributed to India’s economic growth
ICT sector’s contribution to India’s GDP grew from 3.4 % in
2000–01 to 5.9% percent in 2007–2008• Number of phone users in India is high
63.2% of homes have a telephone and 53.2% have a mobile phone.
• Disparity in access to computers and internet (urban and rural)
Just 6.3% of households owned a computer without Internet
connections.
3.1% of households had a computer and Internet access.
8.7% of urban households own computers with Internet accesscomparedwith just 0.7% of rural households.
• Media (usage of print/television/radio)
47.2% households ーtelevision sets, only 19.9% use radios• Television is preferred source of information for most8

─ 47 ─

• Recent survey by GSMA Development Fund and the Cherie
Blair Foundation for Women provides a gendered
breakdown of mobile phones users and owners in India(GSMA and Cherie Blair Foundation for Women (2010)• Only 28 percent of women own a mobile phone compared
to 40 percent of men.
• Another 20 percent of females were found to be“borrowers” of mobile phones through family or friends.
• Access and use among women still favors those with higher
education and income levels, as well as those who live inurban areas.

9

Urban-rural Disparity In Access To ICTdata

10─ 48 ─ICTs, Gender and Development• E-governancefocus on establishing one-stop-shop for people to accessgovernment schemes/documents/certificate, file complaints
etc.
• Economic empowerment
ICT as an industry and as a tool
• Health
ICTs used to remind women of vaccination schedules,
disseminate information on health• ICT for women’s safety
very recently, new mobile apps have been launched for safetyof women11

5. Case Analysis
Mobile Kunji•An AV job aid designed for front-line health workers (FLHWs).
•The 40 phone-sized cards are illustrated with key messages on family
health and planning, pregnancy and postnatal care for children up to two
years of age.
•Each card has a unique seven-digit mobile short code that can be dialledon the FLHW’s mobile phone.
•Partnership between a State government, Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (BMGF) and BBC Media Action (India).
•89,171 users have accessed 21, 32,420 minutes of information since thestart in 2012.
•200,000 health workers have been trained on the mobile application•Enhanced interpersonal communication has resulted to improve thequality of home visits (plan to scale up by 2015)12

─ 49 ─

5. Case Analysis contd
Kilkari•Phone call to registered mothers as a family timeline service•Automated IVR calls sent as a pre-recorded call made to the registeredphone of families who have subscribed to it.
•Provides time sensitive information related to pregnancy, child birth andchild care.
•Used as a pilot in a state in India
Mobile Academy•Place to train FLHW to deliver life saving information to millions offamilies•IVR based Certificate programme providing voice lectures and quizzes
over 190 minutes for knowledge enhancement•More than 39,000 workers trained till now•Being piloted

13

6. Best Practices : to enhance inclusion of womenand girls in information society (by MoHFW, India)
I. Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS)•Captures information on and track all pregnant women and children (0-5Years) so that they receive ‘full’ MCH Services•2,18,22,364 pregnant women and 1,80,67,874 children were registered in
MCTS during 2013-2014 as on June, 2014(73 % & 67% against estimatednumber)•ANMs upload this service delivery data in near real-time
II. Health Management Information System (HMIS)•To monitor and evaluate the impact of the various health programmes andinterventions being run in all states.
•Capture facility-level statistics/details on health indicators and health facilities
for M&E of the impact of initiatives under NHM•Has analytical and reporting capabilities soon to be along with GIS Integration•Gender/ age wise data can be enumerated for planning purposes.
14

─ 50 ─

30,000,000

No of

25,000,000

Registered…

20,000,000
15,000,000
10,000,000

DATA USE FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN’S INSTITUTIONAL
DELIVERY

5,000,000
0

70.0
60.0

DATA USE FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN TO TRACK THEIR
ANCs

50.0

58.961.160.358.9
54.3
49.8

40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0

% of
Institutional Deliveries

0.0

15

ICT: Media and gender-India• Portrayal of women in news (Global Media Monitoring Project,
2010)
In India women constitute only 22% of the news subjects across all
topic categories.
In India women account for only 18% of the subjects in politicalstories and an abysmally low 10% in stories relating to the economy.
Only 5% of the news stories highlighted gender equality /inequality.
• Portrayal of women in television ads and programs.
sexist images combined with ideal 'Naari' -dedication to husband andfamily and children
Women and girls are expected to perform equally well with men in
the office and work spaces and yet continue to excel in their ideal
woman's role that looks after the children, husbands and families.

16

─ 51 ─

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in access to
ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media• Lack of a clear National policy for promoting ICT for women’sdevelopment.
• Poor ICT infrastructure, lack of electricity in many remote,far-flung areas, and frequent power cuts.
• Poor literacy among women and inadequate computer skills• Unaffordable costs of computer hardware and software,
maintenance and connectivity.
• Little awareness of the full range of opportunities offered by
ICT other than access to information• Limited online information in vernacular languages.

17

Obstacles contd• Women seen merely as consumers of media and ICTs
• Market driven motives• New gender norms to be created and supported bygreater engagement of men and boys.
• Inefficient telephone services along with absence offavourable bandwidth and connectivity for smooth
operation• Financial powers do not wrest with women usually
nor can she decide for herself.

18

─ 52 ─Conclusion & Policy Recommendations• ICT can influence changes and restructure the prevailing power
equations both in and out of family.
• Government of India is running schemes in the various ministries toempower women and girls by providing them trainings in the field oftechnology and supporting them through their ventures.
• Computer labs are set up in senior secondary schools and colleges toprovide free IT education to girls.
• Schemes provide subsidized or free trainings to girls and even provide
financial incentives for completion of course and establish them withlow or no interest loans from cooperative societies and banks.

19

Conclusion & Policy Recommendations•Creating an enabling environment for women to support andencourage strategies which promote equal access to andopportunity to benefit from ICT projects•Developing content which speaks to women’s concerns andreflects their local knowledge, and is of value in their daily lives,
business enterprises, or family responsibilities•Promoting increased employment and representation in the IT
sector for women and the use of ICTs for women’s SMEs
•Institution of scholarships and awards, with incentives, topromote the enrolment of girls and women in ICT programmes.

20

─ 53 ─Conclusion & Policy Recommendations
For social development and gender equality changes must takeplace in a context which consists of following components:•Implementing e-governance strategies which are accessible towomen; and promoting women’s lobbying and advocacy
activities.
•Need for continuous surveillance of media to monitor harmful
effects of stereotypical portrayal of women•Programs and policies need to critically examine whether …
Use of ICT to empowerment seeks to serve ‘market needs’ of
consumption or
Are ICT and media used to reinforce gender stereotypes of
Are ICT and media are transforming and challenging gender
norms
21

THANK YOU22

─ 54 ─

Philippines

Chapter 4 Report from the Philippines
1.

Introduction: Country Profile of Gender and ICTWith a population of more than 92 million,1 the Philippines is the second mostpopulated country in Southeast Asia, the 7th in Asia, and the 12thin the world. There is almost
parity of sex ratio – men at 51% and women at 49%. Life expectancy at birth is higher for
women at 73.1 years compared to 67.6 years for men. The Philippines has a basic literacy
rate of 96.1 % for women and 95.1 % for men. Women have a 49.7 percent labor
participation rate compared to men’s 78.3%. Women occupy 18.4% of elective posts in the
country.2 It has had two women Presidents and at present has a woman Chief Justice of theSupreme Court. In 2013, the Philippines ranked 114 in the Human Development Index.
The last few years has seen the development of technology. Information andcommunications technology (ICT) have started to play a big role in many countries,
including the Philippines. The proliferation of ICTs is transforming various aspects of ourlives, including our culture, and Filipinos have adapted and embraced its various uses.
The telephone has changed the way people communicate, but with the advent ofmobile phones, more Filipinos found a better way of communicating. According to thePhilippines’ National Telecommunications Office, telephone subscription grew by 8.4 percent in 2006 compared to 33.6 per cent in cellular phone subscription. Today, more than 100
million Filipinos have access to mobile phones.3 Ten per cent of global short messaging
system (SMS) traffic is from the Philippines, with the average Filipino sending about 600
text messages in a month, according to studies conducted by various agencies.4It is nowonder therefore that the Philippines is called the texting capital of the world. Recently, thePhilippines has also been tagged as the “selfie” capital of the world, because of the volume ofselfies being shared by Filipinos.

Per 2010 population census. In NSCB Fact Sheet in
http://www.nscb.gov.ph/gender/FS%20on%20WAM%2018mar2013.pdf
2 NSCB Fact Sheet, 2013
3 2012 State of Broadband
4 2009researches conducted by Reuters, Portio research, NY Times, CTIA.org
1─ 55 ─

Philippines
When the Internet was introduced in the Philippines in 1994, there were only about
4,000 users.5This has steadily grown and by the year 2000, some 2 million Filipinos weresaid to have accessed the Internet.6 This figure grew to 7.8 million by 2005,7 and today, theInformation and Communications Office (ICTO) reports that 35 per cent of the population or
about 33 million Filipinos have access to the Internet.8 Latest figures from the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) show that Internet penetration has reached 41% or roughly
44,000,000.9Although a large portion of the population has not yet accessed the Internet,
those who do, use the Internet in their work, in school, to do research, and to communicate
with other people.
The Philippines is in the top 20 countries with the highest number of Internet users
in the world. According to the 2013 South East Asia (SEA) Digital Future in Focus, thePhilippines has the highest social network access among SEA countries.10 The top social
network preferred by the Filipinos is Facebook (FB), with 92 per cent of the social network
users having an FB account. This is followed by Twitter, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. The same
study also said that males spend more time online, although when it comes to using social
networks, the women are more active.
Young people are the biggest consumers of ICTs. According to a study by comScore
in 2013, 71% of the online population in the Philippines falls under the age group 15-34
years old. 11 Data from the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality (YAFS) survey
corroborate the comScore study. According to the YAFS survey, 6 in 10 young people aged
15-24 years old are regular internet users, and that more than half have social network andemail account, and 78 percent have mobile phones.12 On the average, they spend 6 hours a

In www.itu.int
Ibid7 CI Almanac
8 Statement of DOST Undersecretary Louis Casambre on internet penetration in the Philippines.
In http://www.philstar.com/business/2013/02/02/903770/internet-penetration-rises-35
9 http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats3.htm
10 In comScore.com
11 comScore Media Users, March 2013.
12 Findings are based on a national survey of about 17,000 young adults for the 2013
Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality survey conducted by the University of thePhilippines Population Institute.
5
6

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Philippines
week online, some logging in as much as 35 hours of internet use. Females, the younger
youth and those from economically better off regions show higher social media consumption
than males, older youth and those coming from poorer regions.
As subjects of news, women fare low. According to the 2010 Global Media
Monitoring project (GMMP) Philippine findings on news subjects, 31% are women and 69%
are men. 76% of stories reinforce stereotypes, while only 18% challenge stereotypes and only
8% highlight issues of gender inequality.13 This just shows that women are virtually invisible
in the news. The Internet, in many ways, has replaced traditional source of news, but the way
women are portrayed and talked about in the news have remained almost the same in the
online world.
In terms of employment in media, findings from the International Women’s MediaFoundation (IWMF) Global Report on the Status of Women in the News and media(2008-2010) shows that in the Philippines men outnumber women in media management. In
middle management, half are women, 34.5% are in top level management, and 10.3% areboard members.
Business process outsourcing (BPO) in the Philippines grew as a result ofdevelopments and demands in ICT. It is a growing industry. In 2010, BPO activities havegenerated almost 213,000 employment. Bulk of the jobs were in call centers which employed
more than three fourths of the total BPO workforce. It is followed by data processing, andcomputer programming activities.14
More than half of the total workforces were female workers (54.9%). They were
mostly engaged in data processing, application hosting services, customer relationshipmanagement activities, and medical transcription activities.
In special economic zones,15 that host industries mainly for export, the proportion of
women working is much higher than the over-all female labor force participation rate. 64

See pages.cmns.sfu.ca/Kathleen-cross/files/2010/11/GMMP-global.pdf
2010 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI)
15 Philippine economic zones (ecozones) are collections of industries, brought together
geographically for the purpose of promoting economic development. These ecozones
13
14

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Philippines
percent of the 660,600 workers employed in ecozones are female, and this percentage ishigher in certain industries such as electronics.16
Government media institutions are active partners in advocacy against negative
portrayal of women in media. Since May 2009, the Bureau of Broadcast Services, inpartnership with PCW has been airing the weekly interactive radio program, “Tinig Ng
Kababaihan!” (Women’s Voices!) to raise public awareness on government's efforts topromote gender equality and uphold women's human rights, including those guaranteed
under the UN CEDAW. Several media agencies have developed and produced IEC materials
on anti-VAW related laws in comics, pamphlets, brochures and flyers; and conductedorientation/briefing on various gender and development topics, including but not limited togender fair media practice and the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act.
Other government agencies have also been supporting advocacy efforts. The
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) directed its advertising agencies to produce marketing
campaigns and promotional products that are gender sensitive and do not portray
discrimination against either men or women in text or visual renditions. The directive
stressed that under no circumstances should these materials promote (implicitly or explicitly)
sex tourism or the commodification of women. The National Council for Children’s
Television also conducted two dialogues in December 2009 and May 2010 to promote achild-friendly culture, correct the discriminatory portrayal of women and men in certain
situations, among others. The local government unit of Quezon City, with the initiative of its
City Mayor and its GAD Resource Coordinating Office and through its City Council passed a
resolution providing funds for a yearly Gender and Development (GAD) Award for the Most
Gender-Sensitive Film submitted to the Metro Manila Film Festival.

2.

Policies and Laws on Gender and ICTs

were established through Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as "The Special
Economic Zone Act of 1995" as amended by Republic Act No. 8748
16 In Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Gender and Development survey 2009 in
Fostering Women’s Economic Empowerment through Special Economic Zones, 2011.
Available in http://herproject.org/download/sez-and-women-global.pdf

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Philippines
The Constitution of the Philippines says that “The State recognizes the role ofwomen in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of womenand men (Art. II, Sec. 14).” The country in fact, ranks high when it comes to genderequality. 17 It has signed several human rights conventions, and has ratified the UN
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in
1980. In 2012, Republic Act (RA) 9710, otherwise known as the Magna Carta of Women
was passed into law. This is the local translation of CEDAW in the country. Under the Officeof the President is the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), formerly known as the
National Council on the Role of Filipino Women, the primary policy-making andcoordinating body of the women and gender equality concerns.
Republic Act 9710 provides for the “non-discriminatory and non-derogatory
portrayal of women in media and film. Its Implementing rules and regulations (IRR) calledon the Philippine Commission on Women and the Presidential Communications Operations
Office (PCOO) to form the Media and Gender Equality Committee (GEC).A milestone in the
advocacy in eliminating gender stereotyping of women in media, the MGEC is composed of
the Office of the Press Secretary, Philippine Commission on Women, and various
self-regulatory bodies and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Movie andTelevision Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), Film Academy of the Philippines(FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Optical Media Board (OMB),
from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and representatives fromwomen’s media NGOs. The Committee produced the Code of Ethics for Media, Gender
Equality Guidelines, and Media Guidelines to Protect Women against Discrimination inMedia and Film, which were launched in March 2013 for government media, self-regulatory
bodies, schools of journalism, information and communication, and national federations andassociations to make media more gender sensitive while respecting media’s self-regulation.
The Executive Secretary of the President also issued a Memorandum Circular (2013)“directing all concerned government agencies to adopt the gender equality guidelines in thedevelopment of their respective media policies and implementing programs in order topromote gender mainstreaming.”
17

In 2013, the Philippines ranked number 5 among 136 countries in the Global
Gender Equality Gap, and number 9 among 142 countries for 2014.

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In 2012, MGEC launched three books for media – the Code of Ethics for Media(Book 1); Guidelines to Protect Women from Discrimination in Media and Film (Book 2);
and Gender Equality Guide (Book 3).
In 2011, the Philippines came up with a Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS), to build acitizenry that is not just knowledgeable in ICT but adept in it, as it positions itself at theforefront of the digital revolution.18 There is a need to review the PDS though, consideringthat cross cutting issues such as gender and ICT have not been seriously considered.
Other than the PDS, there are specific laws that have been passed, in relation to ICT.
The more relevant ones that consider women and children issues include the following:
1. The Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (RA 9775) extensively recognizes the roleof ICT in the production, advertising and promotion, sale and distribution, purchaseand access (even for personal use) of pornographic materials, albeit only where thepornography involves children, and punishes those responsible for these acts.
This law considers a child as a “computer-generated, digitally or manually crafted
images or graphics of a person who is represented or who is made to appear to be a child”[Section 3(a)(2)]. The age of the person is immaterial, so long as he/she is presented,
depicted or believed to be a child as defined by the law [Section 3(a)(1)].
The law penalizes child pornography“ as “any public or private representation, bywhatever means, of a child engaged in real or simulated explicit sexual activities or any
representation of the sexual parts of a child for primarily sexual purposes: [Section 3(b)];Child pornography materials may be in the form of visual depiction, audio representation(including real-time internet communications), or written text [Section 3(c)].
2. RA 9995 or the Anti-photo and video voyeurism act of 2009 defines photo or video
voyeurism as the “act of taking photo or video coverage of a person or group of
persons performing sexual act or any similar activity or of capturing an image of theprivate area of a person or persons without the latter’s consent. It also includes theact of selling, copying, reproducing, broadcasting, sharing, showing or exhibiting thephoto or video coverage or recordings of such sexual act or similar activity through18

Philippine Digital Strategy, 2011-2016

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VCD, DVD, internet, cellular phones and similar means or device without thewritten consent of the persons involved.
3. RA 10173 or the Data Privacy act was passed in 2012 to safeguard and protect
individual and personal information in information and communication system in thegovernment and the private sector. Under this Act, the data subject has the right toknow if their personal information is being processed, and how it is being used.
Those processing the information must also ensure that security measures are inplace to protect the information that they process.
4. In 2012, RA 10175 or the Anti-cybercrime was passed with the aim to prevent andcombat crimes occurring in cyber space. The law defines and punishes certain acts,
generally classified as:(a) Offenses against the confidentiality, integrity and availability of computer dataand systems; (b) Computer-related Offenses; and (c) Content-related Offenses. The said law,passed in 2012, is at present under temporary restraining order following complaints bygroups with the Supreme Court of its unconstitutionality.
Last year, just a few days after RA 10175 was signed into law, the Supreme Court
issued a temporary restraining order after fifteen (15) petitions to stop its implementation
were filed by journalists, civil society groups, non-government organizations, and evenseveral congressmen and one senator (see sc.judiciary.gov.ph/microsite/cybercrime). The
Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), in its consolidated Answer to these complaints,
identified in the law a total of 20 provisions being assailed as constitutionally invalid while
conceding as constitutionally infirm Section 19, i.e., the “take-down” provision.
Feminist organizations opposed the enactment of the said law. Specifically, theyrejected the cybersex provision of the law for its vagueness and overbroadness. In a statement
signed by several groups, it said that
While the law presumably addresses sexual violence committed online, which are
exploitative and harmful particularly to women, the vagueness and overbroad of cybersex ascontent-related offense creates a different impact on women, who will be the ones caught up
in its wide web and targeted for criminal prosecution.

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Moreover, the elements of the crime under the cybersex provision are not welldefined, therefore the law poses more harm to women who are usual victims of sexual
violence in cyberspace. The law fails to concretely define what constitutes the violation under
the cybersex provision of the law. If the intent of the law is to suppress the occurrence ofsyndicated and exploitative cybersex, the measure may be ineffective as it fails to consider
the transnational nature of sexual violence in cyberspace where site owners or operators andthe buyers are beyond the jurisdiction of the Philippines.19
On February 18, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of theprovisions of RA 10175, including the cybersex and cyber libel provisions, while thefollowing were voted down as categorically unconstitutional:

3.

-

Section 4 (c)(3) which pertains to unsolicited commercial communications-

Section 12 which pertains to real-time collection of traffic data, and-Section 19 which pertains to restricting or blocking access to computer data20

Best Practices

3.1. Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System (GMMS)
The GMMS is a system for managing the gender and development (GAD) profiles,
GAD Plans and accomplishment reports of agencies and local government units (LGUs). It
can also help generate related reports.
The system is also intended to be a tool for the technical officers of PCW in theprovision of technical assistance to agencies and LGUs. Using the system, technical officers
can profile each agency/Local Government Unit (LGU) which includes among others theorganizations’ vision, mission, description, information available on GAD, including
statistics, and other issuances related to GAD. As such, it becomes easier to monitor agency
19

Delete, Undo, retrieve: Statement on the cybercrime Prevention act of 2012, drafted by the
Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau
20 “Cybercrime law constitutional – Supreme court,” in
http://www.rappler.com/nation/special-coverage/cybercrime-law/51197-full-text-su
preme-court-decision-cybercrime-law, accessed on 24 February 2014

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Philippinesand LGU progress in related to gender mainstreaming, as well as monitor government
compliance to the Magna Carta of Women, CEDAW, BPfA, and other related instruments.
3.2. VAW Documentation System
The VAW Documentation System (VAW DocS) is a secure web-based
documentation system that facilitates and integrates the collection and standardization of
information from concerned government agencies and other service providers dealing with
VAW.VAW statistics which are systematically gathered can be used to guide national
policies, such as lobbying for anti-VAW legislation. Data from the VAW DocS can also be
used to gauge the magnitude of the problem which is useful in programming and budgeting
as well as improving service provision, i.e. in a locality.
VAW DocS is still in its pilot stage but has shown its potential. When done regularly,
it can be used as basis for monitoring the Philippine progress in addressing VAW.
3.3. Mobile Applications for womenWith support from the Agencia Española de CooperaciónInternacional para el
Desarrollo (AECID), the PCW launched a contest for college and university students, bothfrom public and private, to develop an Android-based mobile apps based on the Republic Act
9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW).This aims to raise public awareness andpopularize the provisions of the MCW and to promote women’s empowerment and genderequality. To date, a free application called Magdalena is downloadable at Google Play apps.
The said application provides the user with basic background and information on the MCW.
3.4. Take Back the Tech! Campaign
In 2009, the Association of Progressive Media (APC) launched the Take Back theTech campaign in the Philippines with the Foundation for Media Alternatives as its country
partner. The objective of the campaign is the elimination of VAW by using technology, withthe end in view of documenting, denouncing and transforming the reality of violence against
women in online spaces and those that are perpetuated using various forms of ICT. Womenand girls are encouraged to own technology and use it for gender-based activism. The

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campaign utilizes the Ushahidi mapping technology21, to document cases of ICT-related
violence against women and girls. Reports generated through the map are then used as
evidences to back up campaigns for policy changes.
In the Philippines, a total of 68 cases of technology-related VAW have been reported
in the website ph.takebackthetech.net from late 2012 to October 2014. The most common
violation reported is online harassment, followed by the uploading of photos/videos without
consent. In fact, of late, there have been frequent reports in media of sex video scandals
involving local celebrities.
As part of the campaign, FMA also conducts awareness raising on the issue oftechnology-related violence against women in schools, as well as in communities inpartnership with women’s rights organizations and local government units. FMA likewiseholds digital story telling workshops with women so that women’s stories and experiences
are shared. Trainings on secure online communication are also provided to individual andgroups of women, to teach them about their rights online and to protect these same rights.
Through online spaces, women are also taught how to do campaigns and digital activism.

4.

Issues and Challenges
Indeed, ICTs have provided women with a lot of opportunities and benefits. ICTs are

powerful tools and platforms for advocacy and organizing. Individuals and women’s rights
groups utilize various forms of ICT to amplify women’s voices and help publicize women’s
experiences and perspectives, disseminate rights based information, build women’s capacityand promote gender equality through networking and advocacy.22 But despite the gains,there are still issues and challenges that the country has to address, in relation to gender and
ICTs. These include the following:
In media, whether it be in print, photos, television and radio programs,
advertisements and films, women are still stereotyped and at worst, they are portrayed in
The Ushahidi technology is an open source project that allows users tocrowd-source crisis information to be sent via mobile, or online. In
www.ushahidi.com
22 AnitaGurumurthy. Gender and ICTs: Overview Report. IDSS, 200421

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Philippines
derogatory ways. There are television advertisements, for instance, that portray women as
working mothers and yet when they get home, they are still supposed to cook, take care of
the children and the family.
Despite the guidelines developed by the GEC, there remains a low level ofawareness and appreciation of media practitioners to the problems related to the negative or
inequitable portrayal of women and men. A case in point is when a media personality held ashow and trivialized the issue of rape. This has resulted in the MTRCB calling the attentionof television shows and conducting gender-sensitivity training among the employees andproduction staff.
While there had been initiatives to address stereotyping and derogatory portrayal ofwomen in media, there are difficulties in implementing the policies relating to gender issues
because of the lack of criteria for gender neutral programming. The absence of structural
mechanism to monitor this concern compounds the issue. However, the most alarming
emerging gender issue recently is the use of information and communication technology(ICT), specifically the internet, on ICT-related violence and other forms of cyber harassments.
These issues call for the establishment of structured criteria for gender fairness in media
coupled with the creation of monitoring mechanism on this concern. Sustained interaction
and coordination among various government agencies and NGOs and cooperation of private
media entities should be promoted to advance this advocacy. Participation of women’s groupin the formulation, review and enhancements of ICT policies should be ensured.23
According to a report of the thematic working group on discrimination against
women in public spaces in 2013, “The internet has become a site of diverse forms of violenceagainst women, in the form of pornography, sexist games and breaches of privacy.”
Below are some of the emerging forms of VAW as a result of technology:
Cyber harassment. This refers to online harassment of women, which includes rape
threats, doctored photographs portraying women being strangled, postings of women’s homeaddresses alongside suggestions that they are interested in anonymous sex, and technological

23

BPfA+20: Philippine Progress Report on the Implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action,2014

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Philippines
attacks that shut down blogs and websites.24Examples of cyber harassment include threats ofsexual violence, doctored photographs of women, postings of women’s personal information,technological attacks that shut down feminist blogs and websites, and emails to forward
unwanted proposals, to name a few.
Revenge porn. It is a form of sexual assault that involves the distribution ofnude/sexually explicit photos and/or videos of an individual without their consent.
Sometimes called cyber rape or non-consensual pornography, revenge porn is usually posted
by a scorned ex-lover or friend in order to seek revenge after a relationship has gone sour.25
Cyber pornography. This refers to acts of using cyberspace to create, display,
distribute, import or publish pornography or obscene materials.
Cyber trafficking. This includes fake online “marriage agencies” or websites
advertising non-existent work of study opportunities, as well the commercialization ofprivate home videos.
Technology-related violence against women, although something which many
people may consider as trivial because it occurs in ‘virtual’ or cyber space, is still violence.
New forms of VAW violate women’s right to privacy, bodily integrity, freedom of
association, and freedom of expression. Although the more common experiences relate to
psychological harm caused by these new forms of VAW, it is something that can escalate
into physical violence.
What differentiates the new forms of VAW from what we know as VAW are thefollowing:26
Anonymity. An abuser may remain anonymous because of digital technology.
Automation. With the use of ICTs, information may be distributed to a large numberof people; surveillance or monitoring can be done without too much time and effort.

Citron, D. “Law’s Expressive Value in combating Cyber Gender Harassment,” inMichigan Law Review, Vol. 108:373. December 2009.
25 www.endrevengeporn.org
26
APC. Voices from digital Spaces: Technology-related violence against women, 2011.
24

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Philippines
Action at a distance. ICTs allow people to abuse or harass others anywhere in theworld.
Affordability. The cost of gadgets and other technological tools have gone down andthis has allowed more people to make use of new technology. There are also many free
applications and platforms that people share, which they do not have to pay for.
Propagation. Once something has been shared or uploaded in the Internet, it isrecorded and easily shared. The propagation of violative texts and images can lead to there-victimization of women.
We also have to take note of the gender and sexuality issues in relation to ICTs,
specifically internet content regulation, monitoring, surveillance and privacy which limit therights to freedom of expression, information and privacy on the net.
With the emerging new forms of VAW committed through ICT, there is also theneed to identify and define ICT-related VAW within national legislations, as well as provide
protection and access to justice of women who have been victimized online.
Government says it will address the physical infrastructure to address access andconnectivity. Knowing how to use devices is not enough. Women should be taught how to
use ICTs strategically for their empowerment, for them to be informed, to avail ofopportunities, to learn and to earn. Thus, there is also a need to review the government’s
digital strategy in order to address issues in relation to women’s empowerment through ICTs.

5.

Policy Recommendations
Based on the above, the following are our policy recommendations:

Need to have sex-disaggregated data especially those coming from government
agencies. While the MCW stipulates this, there is a need to monitor its
implementation.

Intensify monitoring of the implementation and compliance of the Gender Equality
Guidelines as well as women-related laws especially those that perpetuate VAW
through ICTs (R.A. 995, R.A. 9775)

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PhilippinesMedia practitioners need to be capacitated to use gender sensitive language andimages in print, photos, television and radio programs, advertisements and films.



Women should be represented in all decision-making structures in the ICT sector inorder to push for decisions and innovative projects, policies and standards in the ICT
sector that will help empower women.



Need to increase the level of understanding and awareness of the opportunities that
ICTs could provide for women as this will be one of the ways in bridging the gender
digital divide and towards transforming it into digital opportunity. Infrastructuredevelopment is needed to address the digital divide, and corollary, the gender divide

Education and human resource development to promote ICT awarenessInclusion of women’s rights perspective for the development of internet and ICT
policies; direct participation of women in the development of the policy where theneeds of the poor and the marginalized are heard.

Ensure women’s access to justice, not just offline but also online, by not merely
focusing on protectionism and criminalization but through concrete programs toprevent VAW in cyberspace.

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FY 2014 Seminar for Gender Equalityqy Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Philippines Country Report
Vichel Rse E. Juguilon
Philippine Commission on Women (PCW)&
Liza S. Garcia
Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA)

1. Country Overview
 Consists of 7,107 islands Capital city is Manilappy 300,000,q Approximately
squarekilometers(115,831 sq mi) and the 64th largest country in
the world.
 With a population of at least 99 million people,
the Philippines is the 2nd most populated
country in South East Asia, 7th in Asia and the12th in the world.
 GDP: US$250.2 B (World Bank, 2012)
GDP per capita: US$2,587
Poverty line (% of pop’n): 25.2%
Unemployment rate: 7.2%
 Human Development Index: 114 (UNDP, 2013)2

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2. Gender Equality Policy“The State recognizes the role of women innation building and shall ensure thefundamental equality before the law of womenand men.” (Art. II, Sec. 14 of the Philippine
Constitution)
Ratified the United Nations Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (CEDAW) in 1980
Passed into law RA 9710, otherwise known as“Th Magna“TheM
C t off Women”
CartaW” whichhi h iis th
the llocall
translation of CEDAWPhilippine Commission on Women is the primary policy‐
making and coordinating body of the women andgender equality concerns under the Office of the
President
3

2. Gender Equality Policy
Aside from RA 9710, the Philippines is implementing the following laws:
 RA 7192‐ Women in Nation Building and Development Act (1992)
 RA 7877‐ Anti‐Sexual Harassment Act (1995)
 RA 8353 and 8505‐ Anti‐Rape Law (1997) and Rape Victim
Assistance and Protection Act (1998)
 RA 9262‐ Anti‐Violence against Women and their Children Act(2004) RA 9775 ‐ Anti‐Child Pornography Act (2009)
 RA 9995 – Anti Photo and Video Voyeurism Act (2012)
 RA 10354‐Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act(2012) RA 10364‐ Expanded Anti‐Trafficking in Persons Act (2012)
 RA 10398‐National VAW Consciousness Day for the Elimination of
VAW (2013)4

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3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features) In the World Economic

Forum’s Global Gender Gap
Report 2013,2013 the Philippines
ranked 5th out of 136
countries, making it the only
Asian country to enter in the
top ten since 2006.
 The Philippines ranks
number 8 in the list of “BestCountries for Women to LiveIn” and is also dubbed as“The Best Place in Asia for
Women”

5

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features) The Philippinesppalso had 2 women

Presidents and women now holdthe following positions: Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court,
Secretary of Justice, Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process,Commissioner of Audit andCommissioner of Internal Revenue

6─ 71 ─

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county (statistics and salient features)
Indicator

Women

Men

Functional Literacy Rate (%)(10‐64 years old)

88.7

84.2

Basic Literacy Rate (%)(10 years and over)

96.1

95.1

Maternal Mortality Ratio (per 100,000 live births)

221‐

Life Expectancy at Birth

73.2

67.6

Labor Force Participation Rate (%)

49.8

78.1

Unemployment Rate (%)

5.9

6.8

Proportion of Occupied Elective Positions (%)

20.0

80.0
7

4. Overview of ICTs in the Philippines
 Internet penetration (2013): 33.6m of

population (based on 2012 est. of 92.3m)
 Penetration based on age
 15‐24 years old (40%)
 25‐34 years old (31%)
 35‐44
35 44 years old (16%)
 45‐54 years old (9%)

8

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4. Overview of ICTs in the Philippines
 Female share of the Internet p
population:p
49%(ComScore, 2013)
 Women spend an average of 15.6 hours permonth on the internet. They are likely to visit
sites that relate to family, home and retail FB usage: 92.2%
 F : 51.9%; M : 48.1 (2010)

9

4. Overview of ICTs ・Media and Genderin the country
Indicator

Own a cellular
phone

81.0

76.0

Use theinternet

61.0

57.0

Have an email
account

55.0

49.0

56.0

50.0

Have a social
networking
account10

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4. Overview of ICTs ・Media and Genderin the countryMagna Carta of Women Section 19
provides for Non‐discriminatory and Non‐
Derogatory Portrayal of Women in Mediaand Film
Gender Equality Guidelines: Guidelines toProtect Women against Discrimination inMedia and Film, and Code of Ethics forMedia was formulated by the Media andGender Equality Committee (MGEC)
The Women’s EDGE Plan 2013−2016
seeks to address the persistent negative
portrayal of women in popular media,
especially in film, television, print, andInternet sites.

11

5. Case Analysis: PCW
VAW Documentation System (VAW DocS)Th VAW D
The
Documentationt ti SSystemt(VAW DocS)
D S) iis a secure web‐based
b b d documentationdt ti
system that facilitates and integrates the collection and standardization of
information from concerned government agencies and other service providers
dealing with VAW.
VAW statistics which are systematically gathered can be used to guide national
policies; e.g. lobbying for anti‐VAW legislation
Data from the VAW DocS can also be used to ggauge
g the magnitude
gof the problempwhich is useful in programming and budgeting as well as improving service provision,i.e. in a locality.
When done regularly, it can be used as basis for monitoring the Philippine progressin addressing VAW

12

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5. Case Analysis: PCW
Gender Mainstreaming
Monitoringg System
y((GMMS))The GMMS is the system for
managing the GAD profiles,
GAD plan and accomplishment
report of the agencies and LGUs
and for generating related
reports.
The system is also intended to
be a tool for the technicalofficers of PCW in the provisionof technical assistance toagencies and LGUs.

13

5. Case Analysis: PCW
Gender Mainstreaming Monitoring System‐Profile each agency/Local Government Unit (LGU) which includes
among others the organizations vision, mission, description,
information available on GAD, including statistics, issuances
related to GAD, etc.
‐Manage the GAD Plan/ AR submission of each agency and its
bureaus, regional offices and attached agencies, and LGUs
‐Monitor agency/ LGU progress in gender mainstreaming ;‐Monitor government compliance to the Magna Carta of Women,
CEDAW, BPfA, etc;
‐Generate related reports.

14

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5. Case Analysis: FMA

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Take Back the Tech! campaign
 Calls on all ICT users,

esp.
girls,
esp women and girls
to take control oftechnology andstrategically use any
ICT platform at handfor ACTIVISMAGAINST GENDERBASED VIOLENCE

6. Best Practices : How to make media gender-responsive and toenhance inclusion of women and girls in information society

GENDER EQUALITY GUIDELINES
Launched by the Gender Equality
Committee (GEC) for Media, this kit
contains three books which are: Code of
Ethics for Media (Book 1); Guidelines toProtect Women from Discrimination in
M di andMedia
d FilmFil (Book(B k 2);
2) anddG
Genderd
Equality Guide (Book 3).

18

─ 77 ─

6. Best Practices : How to make media gender-responsive and toenhance inclusion of women and girls in information society

MCW Mobile Application
A contest for college and university
students both public and private withsupport from the Agencia Española deCooperación Internacional para el
Desarrollo (AECID) to develop an
Android‐based mobile apps based on the
Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of
Women (MCW).
This aims to raise public awareness andpopularize the provisions of the MCW
and to promote women’s empowerment
and gender equality.
19

7. Major Obstacles to overcome gender-bias in the
media
Stereotyping of women in media may it be in print,
photos television and radio programs,
photos,programs advertisements
and films is still pervasive.
Low level of awareness and appreciation of media
practitioners to the problems related to the negative or
inequitable portrayal of women and men
The Internet as a means to perpetuate violence against
women is of increasing concern. It is utilized toaccelerate the sexual exploitation of women andchildren.
20

─ 78 ─

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs
Physical infrastructure, connectivity

Lack of access and skills

Gender blind ICT policy
Gender‐blind
policy, and there is no clear
direction on how to address ICT gender‐
related issues

21

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs
Gender and sexuality issues in relation to ICT,
specifically internet content regulation,
regulation monitoring
monitoring,surveillance, and privacy which limit the rights tofreedom of expression, information and privacy on
the netIdentifying and defining ICT‐related VAW within
national legislations,legislations in clarifying issues ofjurisdiction and in terms of providing protection for
women against these forms violence.

22

─ 79 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy
Recommendations
Intensify monitoring of the implementation andcompliance of the Gender Equality Guidelines as well as
women‐related
women
related laws especially those that perpetuate
VAW through ICTs (R.A. 995, R.A. 9775)
Media practitioners need to be capacitated to use
gender sensitive language and images in print, photos,
television and radio programs, advertisements and films.
Women should be represented in all decision
decision‐making
makingstructures in the ICT sector in order to push for decisions
and innovative projects, policies and standards in the
ICT sector that will help empower women.

23

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
Need to increase the level of understanding andawareness of the opportunities that ICTs could
provideid ffor women as thi
this will
ill beb one off th
the ways iin
bridging the gender digital divide and towards
transforming it into digital opportunity.
Infrastructure development to address the digital
divide, and corollarily the gender divide
Education and human resource development topromote ICT awareness24

─ 80 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
Inclusion of women’s rights perspective for the developmentof internet and ICT policies; direct participation of women in
the development of the policy where the needs of the poorand the marginalized are heard.
Ensure women’s access to justice, not just offline but also
online, by not merely focusing on protectionism andcriminalizationi i li ti bbutt ththroughh concretet programs tto preventt
VAW in cyberspace.

25

Sources and References









Factsheet of women and men in the Philippines, National Statistical Authority,
March 28, 2014
Philippine Commission on Women website: pcw.gov.ph
PCW Filipino Women and Men Factsheet, February 2014
Image sources (Slide 8): http://tenminutes.ph/;
http://angbagongfilipino.wordpress.com/page/36/
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/13512/philippines‐tops‐asia‐in‐newsweek‐ranking‐of‐best‐places‐to‐be‐a‐woman
www.pcw.gov.ph
http://en wikipedia org/wiki/Philippines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines
Women’s Empowerment, Development and Gender Equality Plan 2014‐2016,
March 01426

─ 81 ─

Sources and References
 ComScore. 2013 SEA Digital Future in Focus
 comScore.
comScore Women on the Web
 Intel. 2012. Women and the Web
 www.apc.org
 https://securityinabox.org/
 https://ssd.eff.org/risk/lessons
 www.itu.int

SALAMAT PO!

“National Machinery for the Advancement of
Women”
www.pcw.gov.ph
facebook.com/philippine.commission.on.women
Twitter: @PCWgovph
www.fma.ph
facebook.com/takebackthetechPH

─ 82 ─

Thailand

Chapter 5 Report from Thailand
1.

Introduction: Country Picture of Gender in ICT Era
Thailand is a country at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, withthe population around 64 million people (male 31 million; women 33 million).1 Thailand
was ranked by Gender Inequality Index (GII) in No.66 (0.36), because of the proportion of
women’s participation in the politics was still lower than the mean of GII, and in No.103(0.69) of Human Development Index (HDI).
Computer and Internet Skill
In 2014, Survey of the use of information technology and communication(household) of the National Statistical Office found that computer and internet skills of
population in 6 years and above have increased consistently. Women with computer andInternet skills were 26.6%, 29.1% and 34.9% in 2012, 2013 and 2014, respectively,
compared to 26.3%, 28.8% and 34.9%, respectively for men over the same period. Computer
users were 23.8 million people or 38.2%, internet users were 21.7 million people or 34.9%,
and mobile users were 48.1 million people or 77.2%. Computer user steadily increased from30.9 to 38.2 in 2010-2014, internet user increased from 22.4 to 34.9 in 2010-2014 and mobile
user from 61.8 to 77.2 in 2010-2014.
Bangkok had the highest computer user rate, followed by the Central. Computer,
Internet and Mobile user among women were approximate to men in almost every year from2010 to 2014. The proportion of men’s Internet user increased from 21.9 to 34.9 andwomen’s Internet user increased from 22.8 to 34.9. 2
ICT is still very much the men’s world.
The working in ICT sector are classified as high-skilled, e.g. computing andcomputer associate professionals, optical and electronic equipment operators, and low-skilled,e.g. electrical and electronic equipment mechanics and fitters. Despite women’s ICT skills,

12

Prediction of Thai population as of the middle of the year 2014
National Statistical Office: The Survey of Use of information and Communication
Technology in Household,2014

─ 83 ─

Thailand
they constituted a small part of the ICT workforce, especially in the low-skilled group. In thehigh-skilled group, women accounted for only half of men.3
2.

Policies and laws on ICTs

2.1. Policies on Women
After Thailand was a member of the global community and has been committed tothe international agreements on women and the promotion of gender equality, such as the UN
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
that ratified in 1985 and the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and MDGs Plus
(MDGs+) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPFA). These agreements
also had the goal to advance of gender equality concerns of women and emphasized gendermainstreaming.
The Thai government has taken actions to implement relevant international
obligations through collaborative efforts of government agencies, by attached tomainstreaming gender in national policies and coordinated with other organizations. This is
the mainstreaming gender in national policies in the following sections:2.1.a. The Women’s Development Plan under the National Economic and Social
Development Plan
Thailand has incorporated women and gender issues into 5 years National Economic
and Social development plans, through the Women’s Development Plans, starting from the
3rd National Development Plan (1972-1976).
In the present, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF) is
implementing the Women’s Development Plan during the 11th under the National Economic
and Social Development Plan (2012-2016).
The principle aim of this plan is promoting the right attitudes, as well as to adjust
negative traditional attitudes towards women in Thai society. There are also 5 strategies tocapacity building of women, including:3

National Statistical Office and the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP Thailand): Gender Development: Similarities and Differences, 2008─ 84 ─

Thailand

To promote and establish of positive attitudes on gender equality : Recognizing
the roles of family, schools and the media in cultivating the right attitudes
towards the issue of gender equality, this strategy aims at promoting knowledge
on gender roles, recognition of human dignity, and the importance of genderequality for the creation of balance, healthy and sustainable development
among family members as well as through educational courses, programmes
and the media, while correcting traditional prejudices regarding women’s rolesin the family and the society.



To create justice and fairness between men and women: As the best way toassure that national policies and programmes be truly beneficial for women is
to let women be in the position to make decisions, as well as to voice theirconcerns on matters that affect their way of life and status in the society, thisstrategy focus on the promotion of women’s potentiality to participate inpolitics and administration. Also, it seeks to distribute equal opportunities
among women and men to access resources, public services, and to create
appropriate legal mechanisms and measures to support women’s participationin politics and administration.

To improve women’s health, sanitation, security and quality of life: Good
health enables women to work, And to realizing the best of their potentiality.
This strategy, thus, seeks to promote women’s physical, mental andreproductive healthcare as to ensure that women are not prevented to engage or
benefit from the country’s course of development because of their health issues.
Furthermore, it emphasizes that women participate in all processes ofhealthcare policy-making and implementation, and that women, particularly
rural women, old women and those in high-risked groups, have accesses tosufficient and quality healthcare services.



To develop women’s capability and opportunity: For many poor anddisadvantaged women, violence against women (VAW) has loomed as life
threats and barriers against their development in many potential aspects. This
strategy, therefore, proposes to promote security in women’s life and body, in─ 85 ─

Thailandorder to ensure that women can live their life with freedom from fear andviolence.
To strengthen and develop women’s mechanism: Realizing that any women arepoor just because they are denied accesses to economic opportunities,
participation in making economic decisions and deserved benefits, this strategy
propose to solve the problem by promoting knowledge and information for
women, especially regarding their rights, as well as accesses to economic
resources, services, and market so that they may enjoy economic security.

4

2.1.b. The master plan on gender statistical:
The National Statistical Office (NSO), the central statistical organization, developed
a statistical master plan for all government agencies to ensure that Thailand’s statisticaldevelopment supports national policies and development plans. In collaboration with all line
ministries, has therefore developed Thailand’s first Statistical Master Plan (TSMP)
2011-2015. The drafting process was based on participation of line ministries andconsultation with other stakeholders.
The TSMP 2011-2015 is based on the following vision “Thailand’s statistics
represent a joint effort of all government agencies that are driven by a shared goal to develop
Office Statistics to guide and support national development”.5
The coordination with other government agencies, the NSO appointed theCommittee of Thailand’ Statistical System Administrative in Economic, Social, Natural
Resources and Environment to conduct the plan into action, and The Committee of Thailand’Statistical System Administrative in Social branch, also appointed the Subcommittee ofGender Statistical, which was the mechanism to provide The gender statistical development
plan under the Thailand’ Statistical Master Plan for 5 years.

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development: The Women’s Development
Plan during the 11th under the National Economic and Social Development Plan (2012-2016).
5 The National Statistical Office: Executive Summary of Thailand’s Statistical
Master Plan (TSMP) 2011-2015.
4

─ 86 ─

Thailand
3.

Policies on ICTs

3.1. Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Framework.
Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) had provided theThailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy Framework since 2001.
The first was Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
Framework (2001-2010) or IT 2010 has guided the development of Thailand’s ICT in thefirst decade of the 21st century until the present. IT 2010 flagships, was the“5 e’s strategy”, e-Government, e-Industry, e-Commerce, e-Education and e-Society, which
aiming to enhance the economy and quality of life of the Thai people and lead Thailand
towards a knowledge-based economy and society.
Since the IT 2010 was finished, the MICT has developed the ICT 2020 Policy
Framework for the next 10 years (2011-2020). In drafting the ICT 2020 Policy Framework,
the working group has taken as important inputs the previous policy framework and thecurrent status as well as limitation of ICT development of the country. In addition, analysis
was conducted on the context and overall development direction of Thailand, along withvarious challenges that will be faced by the country in the 10-year span of the policy
framework. This will allow the needs and role of ICT in the future to be anticipated.
Furthermore, the development of the policy framework has also considered the technologicalchanges that will occur in this period, in order to assess the impacts of these technologicalchanges on individuals, economy, industry and social transformation in the country.
The development of the content of this policy framework is founded on thefollowing principles:

Use the key concept of sustainable development which has to consider balanced
development in three dimensions, namely, the social dimension, the economic
dimension, and the environmental dimension. Furthermore, both quantity andquality of development should be considered, along with social justice, in orderto ensure sustainable and stable development.



Use ICT in reducing inequality and providing opportunities for people tobenefit from development in an equitable manner.

─ 87 ─

Thailand

Adhere to the “sufficiency economy” philosophy, that is, to focus on economic
that allows the country to keep up with modern times, while, at the same time,
being mindful of sufficiency and moderation that is commensurate withnational capacity, reasonable and has immunity from internal and externalchanges.



Ensure linkage and continuity in policy and strategy with previous policy
frameworks and master plans, in order to sustain momentum.



It is assumed that public sector financing by itself will not be adequate,
6

therefore, the private sector involvement is highly desirable
4.

Best Practices
Thailand had tried to enhance the potential of ICT in development and initiatedmany program for use ICT to access and usage services for empowering women and men.
There were some programs which focused on gender issues, such as gender statistical toshow and highlight the situation and trend of women and men’ development. The examples
were cited in the following sections:4.1. Thailand’s Gender Information Center
Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF) had established thewebsite www.gender.go.th for the center of gender information, such as policies and act for
women’s empowerment, publication, Gender statistical which are concern of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action, including:a. Women in Poverty.
b. Education and Training of Women.
c. Women and Health.
d. Violence against Women.

6

Executive Summary Thailand Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
Framework (2011-2020): ICT2020, Ministry of information and Communication Technology.

─ 88 ─

Thailande. Women and Armed Conflict.
f. Women and the Economy.
g. Women in Power and Decision-making.
h. Institutional Mechanism for the Advancement of Womeni. Human Rights of Women.
j. Women and the Media.
k. Women and the Environment.
l. The Girl-Child.
The website (www.gender.go.th) was the way to communicate to the society about
the situation of women and men. However, there was a limitation for gender statistic in thewebsite, because of OWF wasn’t the primary organization to collect the data, OWF only use
the data from the other government agencies and private sector and bring to analyze on
women and gender issues, so OWF couldn’t control the other organization to provide sex
disaggregated data continuously.
From this problem, OWF try to cooperate with another organization such as
international and regional organization to emphasize and indicate the importance of gender
statistical to the government agencies and Thai society.
These are the examples of the cooperation with the government agency, internationaland regional organization for the gender statistical in the following below:
4.2. Gender Statistics
 Gender - related Development Index Plus : GDI Plus,
In 2009 Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF), with thesupport from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand) developed
composite index Gender - related Development Index Plus: GDI Plus.
GDI plus was inspired by the concept and based on the methodology of UNDP’s
Gender-related Development Index (GDI). The components and the indicators wereexpanded and adjusted to fit the Thai context, and to accommodate data constraints. GDI

─ 89 ─

Thailand
Plus aimed to reflect gender development at the provincial level, which was the strategies
focal point at the policy and implementation levels.
GDI Plus consisted of 6 components and 21 indicators that reflect various aspects ofhuman lives and social activities, including participation and leadership. The indicators also
reflected the distribution of development gains by women and men. The 6 component are
health, education, employment, income, participation, and leadership.
GDI Plus was a composite index that reflected the level of human development thattook into account gender equality at the provincial and regional levels. It could only a general
representation. In reality, there were many dimensions and complicated dynamics in humanand gender development which cannot be fully captured by any composite index.7
 The report of “Gender Development: Differences and Similarities”
In 2008, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand) support the
National Statistical Office (NSO) cooperation with the Office of Women’s Affairs andFamily Development (OWF) prepared the report of “Gender Development: Differences andSimilarities”. The report presented the NSO’s survey data and administrative (back office)data from many government agencies.
This report presented an analysis of gender-disaggregated data on the role anddevelopment of women and men in 7 aspects:
1. Health
2. Education
3. Employment
4. Income and poverty
5. Family life and reproductive health
6. Violence

7

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (OWF), with the support fromthe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Thailand); Gender - related
Development Index Plus : GDI Plus, 2009

─ 90 ─

Thailand
7. Leadership
The aim of the report was to highlight the differences in terms of opportunity, role,and gender equality, sex-specific behaviors. For example, the ratio of women’s and men’s
income in waged employment in non-agricultural sector was 0.92. Women had higher
computer literacy rate, but constituted a small part in ICT employment; the female/male ratio
was only 0.13. More women became victim of sexual violence. Women outnumbered men in
the civil service, but a very small number managed to reach high-level executive positions.
These data clearly reflect the gender situation and gender equality in the Thai society.8
4.3. Center for learning ICT; Thai Community ICT Learning Centers
The concept of Thai Community ICT Learning Centers was founded in Thailand in
2001-2002. The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) policyemphasized to develop Thailand to be the Knowledge Base Society. There were also projects
launched continually on one temple one learning center (OTEC) and Information Community(I-Community). Thai Community ICT Learning Center had been established in 2007 with thesupport of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT). From 20
centers in the beginning, the Center had expanded throughout the country with almost 2,049
in 2014.9 These centers were located in four regions in North, Northeast, Central, and Southregions of Thailand.10
Thai Community ICT Learning Centers served as a center for learning anddevelopment of skills and capabilities in information technology, where community’s
members can find resources and seek self-improvement through the internet. They promote
the concept of lifelong learning and the creation of knowledge-based society. Gender
perspectives were applied in conceptualizing the centers, focusing on, for example, women’s
National Statistical Office and the Office of Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP Thailand) : Gender Development: Similarities and Differences, 2008
9 http://www.thaitelecentre.org/main/index.php/2013-05-17-10-39-27, October
24,2014
10 Learning Management in Enhancing Potential of Thai Community ICT Learning
Center Project for ICT Development and Utilization; Narong Sompong, Nattapon
Rampai, Cherdpong Kheerajiti,www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pil/s1877042813038196 October 24,20148

─ 91 ─

Thailandparticipation and the usefulness of the centers for different groups/housewives. The centers
have more women visitors than men visitors. In 2010, there were 963,202 women visiting thecenter compared to 415,876 men.11
Gender and Media
Thailand is now have the media organization, Thai Public Broadcasting Service(ThaiPBS), which is the private sector of public media that focus on gender equality andwomen’s potentiality in mass media for vision “Public Media and Promotion of Gender
Equality”. ThaiPBS produces and created the television programs, drama series which basedon gender issues and gender perspective, such as “Khon La Dao Deawe kun” the variety
game shows, that focused on the differences of attitudes and feeling in various kind ofproblems’ condition of women and men, the drama series which mentioned on the situationof gender equality in Thai’s society. However ThaiPBS is now the only one clearly of mass
media organization which specific focuses on gender equality and women’s potentiality in
Thailand.
5.

Issues and Challenges
Since the information and communication technology (ICTS) was spread rapidly tothe social, there were many problems occurred with women and children, such as sexual
exploitation, pornography, seduction on social network. However, ICTs were still regard as
the valuable tools and the best way to communicate and disseminate the information
thoroughly. The challenges to success for use ICT to empower women and gender equality,
wasn’t only know and have the skill on how to use the technology, but also realize on theusefulness and bad effect of the information technology too. This is the importance thing,which the government agencies and related organization should to aware. Some issues andchallenges are below:The government agencies and the media associations don’t have measures tocurb and control all kinds of violence against women in all types of media.

11

Draft of Thailand’s sixth and seventh Reports on the Implementations of theConvention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women(Combined); Office of women’s Affairs and Family Development

─ 92 ─

Thailand

Almost the media organization don’t emphasize on gender responsive such as
women’s right and human dignity when disseminate the information about
women to public.

Almost media and computer network vocational lack knowledge of genderawareness to disseminate or report the information about women.

The government agencies don’t emphasize and understand the importance andthe advantage of gender statistical that can show the situation and problem of
women and men.

6.

Policy Recommendations
Promote the Government and related organization to give precedence to collectand provide gender statistical.



Identify and promote good practices and lesson learned on the use of gender
perspective and gender statistical in policy-making as well as developing
targets and indicators to track the progress of women’s and girl’s
empowerment.

Capacity-building towards gender equality in media and social network.



Develop research on ICTs and Women’s Empowerment for the way to integrate
gender responsive and perspectives in all ICTs initiatives.



Integrate gender perspectives in all ICT initiatives.



Promote gender issues in social media.

─ 93 ─

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers and Women Leaders in the
Asia Pacific Region

Thailand Country Report
ICTs and
Women’s Empowerment

Mrs.Natthita Vijittrakarnkul

Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development
Ministry of Social Development and Human Security

Country Overview
 514,000 square kilometres
 Population: 64,871,000
64 871 000*
– Female: 33,329,000– Male: 31,542,000*Prediction of Thai population
as of the middle of the year2014

 GII: 0.36 ((ranked no.66))
 HDI: 0.69 (Medium humandevelopment / ranked
no.103)2

─ 94 ─

Country Overview (cont.)
Government
Monarchy

Politics: Temporary Junta
withReligions: Buddhism

Economy: Agriculture3

Gender Equality Policy
 Women
Women’ss Development Plan during the
11th National Economic and Social
Development Plan (2012-2016)•

Principle aim :T promote theTo
h righti h attitudes,i d as wellll as
to adjust negative traditional attitudes
towards women in Thai society.
4─ 95 ─

Gender Equality Policy (Cont.)
Strategies:
To promote and establish of positive attitudes ongender equality.
To create justice and fairness between men andwomen.
To improve women’s health, sanitation, security andquality of Life.
Life To develop women’s capability and opportunity.
 To strengthen and develop women’s mechanism.
5

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
Population 6 years and over who use the internet by sex, 2009-2013

Source : Survey of the Internet users in household year 2013, National Statistical Office ,Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

6

─ 96 ─

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
Social media Users compare with activities by sex,2013

Source : Thailand Internet User Profile 2013, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (Public Organization) Ministry ofInformation and Communication Technology
7

Current Situation of Gender Equality in the country
The number of ICT Workers classify
by job description, 2012
male

femaleSource : Survey of home workers, National Statistical Office8

─ 97 ─

Overview of ICTs
Women had higher computer and internet user,
computer literacy of population 6 years andover steadily increased from 26.6% in 2012 to
29.1% in 2013.
Bangkok had the highest computer literacy rate,
followed by the North.
Internet literacy was higher among women inalmost every part of the Country.
Southern men had the lowest computer andinternet literacy rate.
9

Overview of ICTs (cont.)
ICT was still very much the men
men’ss world.
world
Working in ICT sector are classified as highskilled e.g. computing and computer associate
professionals, optical and electronic equipment
operators, and low-skilled, e.g. electrical andelectronic equipment mechanics and fitters.
Women accounted for only half of men in thehigh-skilled group.
10─ 98 ─

Case Analysis
 The report “Gender Development:
Differences and Similarities” incooperation with The National
Statistical Office and the Officeof Women’s Affairs and Family
Development, on the support of theUnited Nations Development
Programme (UNDP Thailand),
2008
11

Case Analysis (cont.)
 Report of gender disaggregated data on the role anddevelopment of women and men in 7 aspects:
1. health
2. education
3. employment
4. income and poverty
5 family life and reproductive health5.
6. violence
7. leadership12

─ 99 ─

Case Analysis (cont.)
 Gender- related Development Index

Plusl : GDI Plus,l consists
i off 6 component
and 21 indicators.

 The 6 component are health, education,

employment, income, participation, andleadership, (2009).

13

Best Practices
 Thailand’s gender information center(www.gender.go.th)14

─ 100 ─

Best Practices (cont.)• The Subcommittee of Gender Statistics under
the Committee of Thailand
Thailand’ Statistics System
Administrative in Economic, Social and Natural
Resources and Environment.
pp• The ggender statistics development
plan under
the Thailand’ statistics master plan for 5 years.

15

Best Practices (cont.)

Community ICT learning
centers under the supervisionof the Ministryy of Information
and Communication
Technology .
16

─ 101 ─

Best Practices (cont.) Promote the positive attitudes toward issue of genderqy to publicpand media vocational.
equality Promote knowledge on gender roles, recognition ofhuman dignity, and the importance of genderequality for the creation of balance througheducation courses, programmes and the media.
 Thai Public Broadcasting Service (ThaiPBS) is theprivate sector of public media which focus on genderequality and women’s potentiality in mass media forvision “Public Media and Promotion of Gender
Equality”
17

Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps in access to
ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in the media
The government organization don’t emphasize theimportance and the advantage for provide sex
disaggregated data.
 The government and media associations don’t havemeasures to curb and control all kinds of violence against
women
in all types of media.
 Almost media don’t emphasize on gender responsive such as
women’s right and human dignity when disseminate thei finformation
i aboutb
women to public.
bli
 Almost media and computer network vocational lackknowledge of gender awareness to disseminate or report
the information.


18

─ 102 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
 Promoting the Government and related organization to give
precedencedtto collect
ll t andd provide
id sex disaggregateddit d data.
d t
 Identifying and promoting good practices and lesson learnedon the use of gender perspective and gender disaggregateddata in policy-making as well as developing targets andindicators to track the progress of women’s and girl’s
empowerment.
 C
Capacity-building
it b ildi ttowards
d genderd equality
lit ini media
di anddsocial network.
 Developing research on ICTs and Women’s Empowerment for
the way to integrate gender responsive in all ICTs initiatives.
1920

─ 103 ─

Viet Nam

Chapter 6 Report from Viet Num
1.

Introduction of Gender in ICT Era
In Vietnam, the ICT sector is mainly dominated by men, but there is some notable

progress. In 1996, only 10% of all university computer graduates were female. In 1998,
21.6% of all students enrolled in IT facilities were female. ICT is the first Vietnam tertiary
education sector which has set up a scholarship program for excellent female students andprofessors. ICT tertiary sector promise that women’s participation in IT sectors will grow in
coming years.
Existing Gender Division of Labor
In general, Vietnamese women face specific barriers in entering ICT professional
labor force and the opportunity to get benefits from ICT applications are much more limited
and fragile than that of men. Overall in IT sector women work in lower skilled and lower
paid positions than men. Many IT companies do not hire women as IT professionals. Among
female IT professionals, 85% work as programmers and only 15% are software designer.
The barrier for women’s carrier in the IT sector is reinforced by a gender prejudicewhich is quite strong in Vietnamese society that men are technically more competent than
women. Women are often fired for sale, marketing and administrative positions even when
they bear same degrees as men’s in software for hardware.
Low Representation of Women in Decision-making in ICT Sector
In general, women’s role in planning, policy making or management of ICT sector at
all levels is not clear compared with men. Little attention has been paid on women’s
empowerment in this sector. Moreover, a number of human resource development andmanagement policies tend to work towards limiting women’s representation in decision
making level. Women’s representation in leadership of all agencies is low compared with
their contribution in the labor force. Moreover, most female representatives often hold vicethan chief management position; therefore their voice among decision makers is very weak.
Lack of gender awareness and sensitivity in ICT development
Although progress has been achieved in fostering gender equality and improving
women’s status, there remains insufficient gender awareness and sensitivity of decision─ 104 ─

Viet Nammakers, public service providers and professionals in the country in general and those
responsible for technology development in particular. This may cause gender discrimination
to be ignored or efforts for gender equality to be difficult.
2.

Policies and Laws in ICTs
In comparison to many other countries in the worlds, Vietnam has enacted many

policies to support gender agenda, such as Law on Gender Equality (2007), Domestic
Violence Prevention Law (2008), etc. Through laws, the Government has recognized andaffirmed men’s and women’s equal rights in both the society and the family.
In ICT sectors, the Government of Vietnam considers communication and the media
as key tools through which to realize gender equality and the advancement of women. This isreflected for example in Decree 70/2008/ND-CP, Decree 48/2009/ND-CP and Decree
55/2009/ND-CP, all stipulating various articles, measures and penalties regarding the Law on
Gender Equality.
In 2010, The Government approved the National Strategy on transforming Vietnam
into an advanced ICT country which defines strategic mission to accelerate the IT industry ofVietnam. There is also strategy on development of human resources of Vietnam during theperiod 2011-2020 which encourage girls to study on ICTs sector.
In order to promote people in rural areas, remote areas to use computer and accessinternet, the Government established the project on improvement of computer usage andpublic internet access ability in Vietnam 2011-2016.
Recently, on 1st July 2014, the government established resolution for promoting ICT
to response to sustainable development that creates equal environment access for both men
and women.
3.

Best Practices
Since 1996, The National Committee for Advancement of women (NCFAW) has

been publishing the bulletin “Women in Progress” on a quarterly basis. This is distributed to
the Committee for Advancement of women in all sectors, provinces and cities, as well as toindividuals and organizations working on gender equality and the advancement of women.

─ 105 ─

Viet Nam
NCFAW’s website (http://genic.molisa.gov.vn) in Vietnamese and English has been
upgraded and maintained, and has received almost 1000 visitors per month.
Since July 2009, capacity building around gender mainstreaming for the Ministry ofInformation and Communication (MIC) using television and printed media has been
implemented within the framework of the UN – Vietnam joint program on gender equality.
The MIC organized the World IT Forum in 2009 with a session dedicated to
discussing gender in information technology. Issues discussed included the obstacles faced
by women in accessing IT as well as policy recommendations and solutions for improving
their access.
Information and communication technology development, particularly the internet,
has created opportunities for information exchange to promote the empowerment of womenand girls, and created conditions for women to share their knowledge, to develop networks
and engage in e-commerce. The Vietnam Women Union support women’s access to IT at
different levels. So far, all of the vocational training centers and establishments run byprovincial Vietnam Women Union have been provided IT vocational training for hundreds ofthousands of women, particular young women.
Increasing numbers of media agencies are promoting women’s participation andbroadcasting positives images of women in mass media. Vietnam television (VTV) and theRadio of Vietnam run programs especially for women such as “New Energy” (broadcast on
daily basis), “Women and Life” with eight 15 minutes broadcast per month andcommunication messages from the Center for Applied Science on Gender, Family andAdolescents (CSAGA).
The Ministry of Science and Technology collaborates with Young Union to organize
an annual ceremony for the “Award for outstanding female Students in IT”. Since 2011,nearly 500 outstanding female students in the IT sectors have received the award. This is aneffort to encourage young female IT students to make a greater contribution in the IT sector
in Vietnam.
The percentage of female workers in the telecommunication sector is increasing with
their improved capacity and qualifications. The statistics from Vietnam Post and─ 106 ─

Viet Nam
Telecommunications (VNPT) show that women account for 42% total labor force the sector,
with 38.37% having university and other higher education qualifications.
Women engaged in IT teaching at universities in on the increase. According to datafrom 17 IT faculties of universities nationwide, female lecturers account for 26% of IT
lecturers. There are 20 IT lectures holding PhDs.
The percentage of urban women having access to mass media is higher than that ofrural women. For instance, 38.8% or women urban women have access to three basic typesof media, while only 15.5% of rural women do so.
Much progress has been made in combating the broadcast of negative images ofwomen through professional guidance, proactive implementation and support of broadcasting
images on gender equality and using non-sex-discriminatory language in communication
programs.
4.

Issues and Challenges
The percentage of women in leadership positions in the information and culture

sector remains low.
Women have less access to IT than men, due in part to the lack of time, burdens ofwork within the family and limited education levels.
There are still negative images of women including gender stereotypes in various
forms of media using modern communication technology.
There has not yet been a large-scale study on images of women and gender equality
in the media in Viet Nam
5.

Policy recommendation
It is very clear that improving ICT infrastructure may increase the number of people

access to ICT. Therefore, the Government’s investment in IT infrastructure has assisted
women in improving their access to IT.
Currently, the policies, projects and programs often lack of gender sensitivity.
Government should manage mechanism of gender mainstreaming in all steps of policy
making.

─ 107 ─

Viet Nam
Many scholars find out that women are lag behind since their low knowledge torecognize rights of themselves. The Government should Improve women’s IT knowledge andfacilitate women’s equal access to IT education and training opportunities.

─ 108 ─

FY2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers andWomen Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region

Country Report
Name: Nguyen Thi Nga
Nguyen Thi Hoang Bich

Viet Nam
MOLISA & VWU

1.Country Overview-The socialist republic of Viet Nam-Capital: Hanoi/ population: 90 million (2013)-Major language: Vietnamese-Monetary: Viet Nam Dong
-Location: in South East Asia, share border with China, Lao,
Cambodia.
-Weather: Vietnam lies entirely within the tropics-People: there are up to 54 diffirent ethnic groups inhabiting in Viet Nam (Kinh: 86% and ethnic minority
groups: 14%)2

─ 109 ─

2. Gender Equality Policy• Governmental managing gender equality: Genderequality Department - Molisa• 2013 Constitution• Gender Equality Law (2006): to stipulate genderequality in all aspects of life
• Marriage and Family Law (2007)• National Strategy on Gender Equality 2011-2020
mentions some national targets in terms of genderequality in Viet Nam by 20203

2. Cont.

• National Program on Gender Equality 2011-2015
Build some projects and models to promote gender equality
in many fields: employment, politic, economy, etc,…
• Resolution 11-NQ/TW of the Political Bureau of theCommunist Party of Vietnam dated 27/4/2007 on the Workfor Women in the Period of Accelerating Industrializationand Modernization• The Decree No. 56/2012/ND-CP, prescribing
responsibilities of ministries, sectors and People's
Committees at all levels for ensuring the participation in thestate management by the Vietnam Women's Union at alllevels4

─ 110 ─

Vietnam Women’s Union• A political – social organization• Founded in 1930
• Members: over 15 million• Operating through out Vietnam at: central,provincial, district and commune• Mandated to take care women rights andpromote gender equality• VWU’s mission is to take care women’s
spirits and promote equality for women

3. Current Situation of Gender Equality in the
county(statistics and salient features)

Labour force

The trend of GII in Viet
Nam
Source: UNDP

Women (%)

Men (%)

Literacy

92.2

96.2

Secondaryschool

24.7

28

6

─ 111 ─Cont.
General statistics on women in Vietnam:
Female population
Women in leadership
National Assembly (2011-2016)
Provincial Peoples Council (2011-2016)
District People Council (2011-2016)
Communal People Council (2011-2016)50.52%
24.4%
25.2%
24.6%
21.7%

Female entrepreneurs
25%
Processing industry, manufacturing 52.3%
Finance, banking and insurance
52.9%
Science and technology
30.8% 7

Cont
Total

Of which
Rural area

Urban area

2007

111.6

112.7

111.3

2008

112.1

114.2

111.4

2009

110.5

110.6

110.5

2010

111.2

108.9

112.0

Gender rate of newly born babies(boys/100 girls)
8─ 112 ─

4. Overview of ICTs・Media and Gender inthe country

Densities of selected ICT equipments in Viet Nam,

Number of employees in computers, Population
Census 2002-

The perentage of female workers in the telecommunication sector is increasing with their improved capacity andqualification: women account for 42% labor force in this sector with 38,7% having university and other higher
education qualifications ( Vietnam post and telecomunication – VNPT 2012)
Women engaged in IT teaching at universities is on the increase: female lecturers account for 26% IT lecturers
The percentage of urban women having access to mass media is higher than that of rural women: 38.3% of urban
women access to 3 basic type of meida, whereas 15.5 of rural women do so
9

VWU WITH ICT• Vietnamese and English website• Open several training courses on
computer• Provide women access to computer• Provide computers to women• E-management of credit program• Starting e-business transaction

─ 113 ─The number of internet users, mobile cellular subscriptions
and fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, 20092012
In 2012, Vietnam ranked 83th among
190 countries in the world and 4th in
the SEA in terms of e-government
development index by United
Nations.
In terms of communication andinformation technology development,
in 2012, Vietnam ranked 81th among
155 countries in the world in a study
by ITU.
Vietnam is also categorized as one of
the top ten countries most dynamic in
IT development by ITU.
Source: MIC

11
MIC (2013) Information Technology Application Report 2012

5. Case Analysis• In 2010, MOLISA and MOGEF, The republic of Korea
organized a training workshop “Women and friendly
environment to access internet and media” at national level
for Board of Advancement of women in provinces andministries:+ Raise awareness on the important of ICT for women+Call for attention on women and ICT• MOLISA, Youth Union and MOST organize a annual
ceremony for the “Award for outstanding female students inIT”

12

─ 114 ─

6. Best Practices : How to make media
gender-responsive and to enhance inclusionof women and girls in information society- Raising awareness of people in charge of managing ICT
about gender equality- Increasing number of media agencies to create
opportunities for women to participate and broadcasting
positive image of women- Having incentives for girls to study in ICT sectors- Having a training class for women to guide women to use
computer, access to internet, etc, especially for rural
women and women ethnic minorities- Gender mainstreaming in making ICT policies, programs,
strategies, etc.,…
- Proper punishment for any kinds of action to prohibit
women and girls access to ICT sectors
13

7. Major Obstacles to reduce gender gaps inaccess to ICTs and to overcome gender-bias in
the media-

The percentage of women in leadership positions in theinformation and culture sector remains low
Women have less access to IT than men, due in part to thelack of time, burdens of work within the family andlimited education levels
There are still negatives images of women including
gender steretypes in various forms of media using modern
communication technology
There has not yet been a large-scale study on images ofwomen and gender equality in the media in Viet Nam

14─ 115 ─

8. Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
1. Women should be engaged in ICTs sectors: in ICT labor
force; access to media,…
2. Media is crucial tool to change awareness of people in termof gender equality. So, advertisement on internet or on
television and other medias should be evaluated under
gender lens before releasing
3. The Government’s investment in IT infrastructure has
assisted women in improving their access to IT.
4. ICT Legal system should be gender sensitive mainstreaming
to meet needs of women.
5. Developing budget for ICT and women’s empowerment.
6. Networking ICT institutes/organizations in the region.
15

─ 116 ─

プロフィール

執筆者プロフィール
Contributors’ Profile カンボジアCAMBODIA

ケオ・バタナMs. KEO, Vathna

女性省

Ministry of Women’s Affairs

TV 放送部長

Chief of TV Broadcasting Office

女性・児童に対する暴力、人身取引、レイプに関する国内のニュースをまとめた日報を作成しています。国内ラジオで放送する前に、ジェンダー主流化に関連する情報を収集しています。公立学校に通う若者たちを対象とした DV 研修を企画し、メディア（地元テレビ、ラジオ、ウェブサイト、ニュースレターなど）を通じた情報発信を担当しています。

I make daily reports from the news related to violence against women and children,
human trafficking and rape from the domestic newspapers to the Minster. I provide assistanceto ensure about the quality of information on gender mainstreaming before it’s broadcasted
by the local radio. I also organize the public forum to youth in the public school on domestic
violence and am in charge of information dissemination though medias (local television,
radio, website and newsletters).
チム・マナヴィ

Ms. CHIM, Manavy

オープン・インスティテュート

Open Institute代表

Executive Director

20 年以上外務省に勤務の後、現在はオープン・インスティテュートの代表・創設者であり、執行委員委員長を務めています。http://open.org.kh/en.
オープン・インスティテュートでの役割は、以下の通りです。
・オープン・インスティテュートのミッションに沿った事業の実施統括
・活動戦略の策定
・資金調達、運営持続性の確保
・女性ウェブポータルと掲示板の編集長として、Women Program and Act の運営

http://women.open.org.kh/km/contact-us, http://women.open.org.kh

─ 117 ─

Profile

ICTを活用して女性のエンパワーメントにつなげる一連の取組みは、2013年10月ジュネーブで行われた女性差別撤廃委員会(CEDAW)の第56回UNセッションで、好事例として取り上げられました。

http://www.apc.org/en/news/committee-elimination-discrimination-against-womenWith over 20 years experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I am currently the
Executive Director, co-founder of the Open Institute (OI), and Chairperson of the Executive
Committee http://open.org.kh/en. My responsibilities include:・Supervise overall progress towards upholding and fulfilling the mission of the OI
・Ensure the organization has a long-range strategy
・Fundraise and ensure the sustainability of the organization
・I created Women Program and Act as Editor-in-Chief of the women web portal andwomen bulletin
http://women.open.org.kh/km/contact-us, http://women.open.org.kh
My efforts to advocate the use of ICT for women empowerment have been
acknowledged at the 56th UN session of the CEDAW in Geneva October 2013.
http://www.apc.org/en/news/committee-elimination-discrimination-against-women

 インド

INDIA

リズィヴィ・ゾーヤ アリー Dr. RIZVI, Zoya Ali
厚生・家族福祉省

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

副本部長

Assistant Commissioner

国や中央官庁が実施する公衆衛生管理の分野で様々な業務を担当してきました。現在
は「青少年健康プログラム」の策定、実施及び広報活動を統括しています。
「青少年健康プログラム」は、インド全国の思春期の女子と男子  億  千万人を対象とする意欲的な取り組みです。同プログラムを通じて既存のヘルス・ケア・サービスと協力しながら、予防的ヘルス・ケアの提供を目指しています。保健分野で活動している援助機関とも連携しています。

I have a long and wide experience in the field of public health and healthmanagement both at the State and Central Government level. I am currently look after the─ 118 ─

プロフィールplanning, implementation and development of communication strategy of the very ambitious
Adolescent Health Programme of India which aims to cover more than 250 million
adolescent boys and girls spread over 36 states and union territories. We aim to provide
promotive and preventive health care along with the already existing curative health careservices in the government sector. My responsibilities also encompass interaction withmultilateral agencies working in the health sector of India both directly and indirectly.
プラブカテェ・プリティ アビジィット

Dr. PRABHUGHATE, Priti Abhijit

国際女性問題研究センター

International Center for Research on Women

上級技術専門官

Senior Technical Specialist

ソーシャル・ワーカー/研究者の立場で、主にジェンダーと HIV 関連事業の技術支援をしています。ICRW のプロジェクト・リーダーとして、ジェンダー視点に基づいた健康問
題（例えば HIV）理解の促進のため、他機関に技術協力を行っています。ICRW では、ジェンダー視点に基づいた、アルコール政策や女性に対する暴力のような幅広い業務を担当し、専門分野を広げることができました。
医療機関へのアクセスや、公共医療政策が女性と男性では異なる影響を与えることについて、データを収集し、ジェンダーと健康の分野への貢献を目指しています。

As trained social worker and researcher, I provide technical assistance to projects
primarily involving gender and HIV. I lead projects in ICRW and provide technical assistanceto other agencies to enhance understanding on health issues like HIV from a gender
perspective. My exposure to various projects in ICRW has helped me to widen myprofessional horizon to apply my experience to wider health issues like alcohol, alcohol
policies and violence against women from a gender perspective. I intend to contribute to thefield of gender and health by creating evidence on how access, experience of health services
and policies differentially impact women.

 フィリピンPHILIPPINES

フギィロン・ヴィシェル アール エス イー エデン Ms. JUGUILON, Vichel RSE Eden
フィリピン女性委員会

Philippine Commission on Women

企画担当官

Planning Officer II

─ 119 ─

Profile


企画担当官として、ジェンダー主流化、ジェンダーと開発(GAD)、女性関連法に関連したオリエンテーション、講義や研修を担当しています。具体的には、ジェンダーと開発やジェンダー主流化関連法分野での計画・予算策定について、省庁や国立大学、カレッ
ジ、地方自治体などの支援をしています。
PCW のローカル・ジェンダー・プログラム（LGRP)スタッフとして、他省庁と連携しながら、自治体レベルのジェンダー主流化の学習拠点の形成に協力しています。また女性のエンパワーメントと男女平等に関連した、PCW の取組みについて情報提供を行っています。

As Planning Officer, I provide technical assistance on Gender Mainstreaming and
GAD Planning and Budgeting to National Government Agencies, State Universities andColleges, and Local Government Units (LGU) through orientation/lectures and trainings on
GAD, Gender Mainstreaming, Laws on Women and other related topics. I am also part of the
Local Gender Resource Program (LGRP) of the PCW and provide technical assistancethrough forging partnerships with other National Government Agencies and identifying LGU
Learning Hubs on mainstreaming GAD at the local level. I also represent PCW in meetings
to input regarding issues related to women’s empowerment and gender equality.
ガルシア・リザ サモンテ

Ms. GARCIA, Liza Samonte

メディア・オールタナティブス財団

Foundation for Media Alternatives

ジェンダーと ICT プログラム・コーディネーター

Coordinator for Gender and ICT

ジェンダーと ICTs のプログラム・コーディネーターとして、テクノロジーとジェンダーの分野で、適切で戦略的な ICTs を活用した、フィリピンの女性団体のエンパワーメン
トを支援しています。
昨今のデジタル環境の進展のなか、女性の権利の拡張と保護、特にテクノロジーを用いた女性に対する暴力への対応を担当しています。
適切なツールとテクノロジーの戦略的な活用を通して、デジタル環境でジェンダーに関連する権利を守り、市民とコミュニティ、特に女性と女児のエンパワーメントのために支援をしています。

As Program Coordinator for Gender and ICT, I contribute to the discourse on theunderpinnings and intersections of gender issues and technology, and provide assistance inthe empowerment of Filipino women and their organizations through appropriate and─ 120 ─

プロフィール

strategic use of ICTs. I am in charge of promotion and protection of gender-based rights indigital/electronic environments, especially in understanding and addressing the particular
manifestations and impacts of technology-related violence against women. I also provide
technical assistance to build the capacity of citizens and communities, esp. women and girls,
to protect themselves and defend their gender rights in digital environments, esp. throughstrategic use of appropriate tools and technologies.

 タイ

THAILAND

ヴィジットラッカ―ンク－ン・ナティタ

Ms. VIJITTRAKARNKUL, Natthita

社会開発・人間の安全保障省 女性と家族開発部、ジェンダー平等推進局

Bureau of Gender Equality Promotion, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development,
Ministry of Social Department and Human Security
Social Development Worker

社会開発担当職員

研究と情報グループの研究開発担当職員としての経験を活かし、統計マスタープランを構築するため、国内のジェンダー統計の整備を国立統計局と連携しておこなっています。また、北京宣言と北京行動綱領に基づき、タイの女性を取りまく現状についてのデータを更新し、ジェンダー問題に関するデータ分析を担当しています。
研究部門のスタッフとして、ジェンダー問題に関して研究計画を策定し、北京宣言と北京行動綱領に沿ったジェンダー研究を総括しています。
省庁（131 機関）を対象にしたモニタリングと評価、ジェンダーの視点の導入、男女平等に関する陸軍士官学校の男子学生の意識調査などの研究を統括しています。

Making use of my experience as social development worker in research andinformation group, I cooperate with National Statistics Office to develop gender statistics ofThailand to support statistical master plan. In addition, I analyze and summarize data on
gender issues for providing Women’s Situation Report following the Beijing Declaration andPlatform for Action. As a research unit staff, I prepare research project proposal on genderissues, synthesize and summarize researches on gender issues including researches on
women following the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. I also assume
responsibilities to conduct research such as monitoring and evaluating the gender focal point
among 131 line ministries, working on gender perspectives, and study about attitude of malestudents of military academy on gender equality.

─ 121 ─

Profile ベトナムVIET NAM

グエン・ティ ガー

Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Nga

労働傷病兵社会福祉省男女共同参画局

Gender Equality Department – Ministry of Labour/ Invalids and Social Affairs
Officer職員

女性と開発の分野で修士号を取得。現職では、ベトナム国内のあらゆる分野で男女平等が推進されるよう、各種業務を担当しています。ジェンダー主流化政策に関する研究を担当しています。加えて、雇用、女性に対する暴力など、さまざまな領域での政策立案をコーディネートしています。さらに、男女平等を推奨する際に、「ジェンダー平等国家戦略(2011-2020 年度)」
「ジェンダー平等国家プログラム（2011-2015 年度)」の実施にも従事しています。

I finished my master in women and development. As my office is in charge ofmanaging and promoting gender equality in all aspects in Viet Nam, I often conduct gender
related researches in order to mainstream gender perspectives in policies. Additionally, I also
coordinate policy-making processes in various areas such as employment and violenceagainst women, etc. Furthermore, I deploy some activities in National Strategy on Gender
Equality 2011-2020 and National Program on Gender Equality 2011-2015 in advocating
gender equality.
グエン・ティ ホアン ビック

Ms. NGUYEN, Thi Hoang Bich

ベトナム女性ユニオン

Vietnam Women’s Union

国際関係部職員

International Relations Department Official

ベトナム女性ユニオンとアジア太平洋地域の女性団体とのネットワーク構策を担当しています。
ベトナムの女性の地位向上を目指し、開発プロジェクトの策定・実施を担当しています。海外諸機関と連携し、ワークショップの企画、セミナーでの情報共有、男女平等の経験・体験の意見交換を支援しています。
女性や女児に関連した法律や法令の策定には、ベトナム女性ユニオンのコンサルタン
トとして参画しています。ベトナム女性ユニオンのウェブサイト、ウェブ上の広報、国内でのベトナム女性ユニオンが実施した開発プログラムや国内の女性運動の動向に関す

─ 122 ─

プロフィール

る記事、各国のジェンダー関連のニュースを収集するほか、記事の寄稿もしています。

I am assigned to maintain and to expand relationships between the Vietnam
Women’s Union and women’s organizations in Asia Pacific region. I am in charge ofdesigning, implementing and managing development projects to promote advancement of
women’s status in Vietnam. I assist to organize workshop, seminar for sharing information,exchanging experiences on gender equality, that coordinate with Vietnamese andinternational partners. I serve as consultant to VWU when they draft laws or regulations
related to women and girl children. I also contribute articles to VWU website, VWU
e-Bulletin, Vietnam Women’s News Paper which feature VWU development programs andwomen’s movement in the country, as well as news around the world through gender
perspective.

越智 方美Dr. Masami Helen OCHI

独立行政法人国立女性教育会館 研究国際室

Office of Research and International Affairs, National Women’s Education Center
専門職員
Specialist
博士（社会科学）。お茶の水女子大学大学院人間文化研究科博士後期課程修了。上智大学外国語学部フランス語学科卒業後、外資系企業にてマーケティング、人事業務を担当。
英国イースト・アングリア大学大学院留学を経て、東京都所轄事業所「東京ウィメンズ
プラザ」に勤務し、男女平等推進研修の企画業務に従事。2008 年 9 月より現職。国立女性教育会館では、海外の男女共同参画推進機関との連携業務を担当し、社会学の視点から、日本やアジア諸国のジェンダー平等政策について研究をおこなっています。

Ph.D in Social Sciences. Completed the doctoral degree at the Graduate School of
Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu Unitervisy, in Tokyo. Graduating Sophia University
in Tokyo, Dr. Ochi served as marketing and personnel officer in private sector. She holds an
M.A. in Gender Analysis in Development from University of East Anglia in Norwich, U.K.
After having worked at “Tokyo Women’s Plaza”, gender equality center under thejurisdiction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, she joined NWEC in September, 2008.
Her assignments at NWEC include networking with gender machineries and civil society
organizations as well as organizing international seminars and forum. She also supervises a

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Profile

research project on comparative study of gender equality policies in Japan and the South East
Asian countries.

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本書の内容は、「平成 26 年度アジア太平洋地域における男女共同参画推進官・リーダー
セミナー」の報告資料をとりまとめたもので、必ずしも国立女性教育会館の統一的な公式見解ではありません。
本書に記載されている内容は、国立女性教育会館の許可なく転載できません。

This report is based on reports and discussion of “2014 Seminar for Gender Equality Officers
and Women Leaders in the Asia Pacific Region” sponsored by NWEC. The views expressedin the report do not necessarily reflect those of NWEC.
The contents of this report may not be reproduced without permission from NWEC.
発行：平成 27 年 3 月
編集：独立行政法人国立女性教育会館（NWEC）〒355-0292 埼玉県比企郡嵐山町菅谷 728 番地

Published by: National Women’s Education Center of Japan (NWEC), March 2015
728 Sugaya, Ranzan-machi, Hiki-gun,
Saitama, 355-0292, Japan

2014 NWEC Leader Seminar Report

Gender and ICT in Digital Age

National Women's Education Center of Japan