By Bahle Gama
Acting Prime Minister Pholile Shakantu says despite ongoing interventions to close the gender gap across all sectors of society, there needs to be a way to best use innovation and technology to improve gender parity in all key development areas.
Shakantu was speaking during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at the Happy Valley Hotel where she was representing the Deputy Prime Minister.
She stated that this is not just to give women a seat around the table and to improve global ranking, “but the purpose should be to truly empower women to participate meaningfully in all key sectors and have a voice in decision making.
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Noting how women still face challenges in the digital and technology space, Shakantu stated that diversity in the private sector, public sector, business, and politics is important because it boosts the quality of decision-making.
“Evidence is clear on the economic and developmental gains of all countries who have invested in the inclusion of women in all the integral spheres of development,” she said.
She elaborated that digital technologies have created new spaces for interaction and enabled new ways to connect, share experiences, work and build communities.
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These technologies according to Shakantu, continue to be influential and have the potential of enhancing growth, address inequalities, and expand opportunities for the realisation of women’s rights globally.
“Indeed, access to the internet and digital devices has become central to the empowerment of women and girls, and in enabling them to realise and enjoy their rights. The digital gender divide in access to the internet in our societies limits the potential of the internet and ICT to contribute to achieving gender equality, women’s rights, and digital rights for women and girls,” she said.
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The APM continued that enough evidence illustrates how empowering women and girls through the provision of meaningful access to the internet and digital technologies could undoubtedly provide them with opportunities to start businesses, to access education, health, social and financial services.
She stated that it is a powerful tool that can enable women and girls to participate in governance. It is also a powerful tool that can enable women and girls to participate in governance, to associate, assemble and express themselves on issues that are dear to them.
Acting PM Pholile Shakantu says despite many interventions that the Eswatini Government has in place to support of women; women continue to face challenges in the digital space. #EmbraceEquity pic.twitter.com/JedgEONs7O
— Eswatini Government (@EswatiniGovern1) March 8, 2023
“In addition, there is a need to increase women’s representation in leadership and decision-making roles within the ICT sector,” she said.
She added that His Majesty’s government continues to support women and girls in ICT, through gender-sensitive laws and policy frameworks, providing scholarships for young women and girls in ICT and adopting e-commerce platforms to bring women entrepreneurs and retailers new business opportunities enabling them to enter traditionally male-dominated sectors and allowing them the flexibility to balance domestic care work responsibilities and paid work.
