The center for information, technology and development (CITAD) with support of the British Council EU through agents for citizens-driven transformation Act organized a one day workshop for journalists on bridging gender digital divide in Kano.
Maryam Ado Haruna, a staff In the British council revealed that there is huge gender disparity in accessing Information amongst people.
“Gender digital divide is a gap to access information and communication technology between genders”
“The internet gender gap is striking especially in developing countries, among which is Nigeria. Though mobile connectivity is spreading drastically it is not spreading equally”.
“The need to bridge this gap is very essential” she added.
Ibrahim Nuhu, Human resource officer, (CITAD) explained the objective of the program to newsmen
“We organized this program for journalists to partner with us as they are the watchdog of the society”.
“Different media coming together to learn capacity building on what is expected on sensitizing the public on the menace of gender digital divide”
“Journalists have a huge role to play in teaching the public how to deal and report such issues”
38% of harassed women found their recent experience with online harassment – Zainab
Zainab Aminu, the gender based officer (CITAD) explained that 38% of women and girls harassed are found online, the need to amplify the reportage of online GBV cases.
“Online GBV includes Unwanted sexual remarks, threats, non consexual posting of sexual media, malicious sharing of intimate msgs and photos, harassment etc”
“The public only takes physical violence seriously, Just bkus is online does not make it violence any less harmful, it is what happened ” she said
She explained the effect of online gender violence to newsmen stating that it could even lead to death of the victim.
“Invasion of privacy, damage to personal relationships, self censorship, subduing participation in democratic life, withdrawal from society, anxieties, traumas and even death of a victim are some effects of online gender based violence.
” If we allow all this to continue, it will continue to widen the gap in digital divide in the society”
“Women and girls need to be taught how to protect themselves against online gender based violence through digital security.
She lastly urged journalists to continue the fight against Online GBV and sensitize the public as they are the voice of the voiceless.
Topics like Digital Divide, Digital tools and threats imposed, how to be safe online, gender based violence and its impact on bridging the digital divide were explained to newsmen.
