About the APC Women's Networking Support Programme

Global

18 April, 2011 - 03:02

Who we are

We are a global network of women who support women networking for social change and women's empowerment, through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). We are part of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)", an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use ICTs, including the Internet.

We promote gender equality in the design, development, implementation, access to and use of ICTs and in the policy decisions and frameworks that regulate them.

Our network numbers over 175 women from more than 40 countries. They are individual women and women's groups and organisations working in the field of gender and ICT and actively supporting women's networking. Our members have formed themselves into regional networks in Africa and Latin America, as well as networking globally with other members from Europe, Asia and North America.

Our programme members are specialists in areas such as training, information facilitation, technical work and policy issues. Many work on a voluntary basis and are mostly experienced network users rather than formally-trained ICT experts. We come from different backgrounds: among us are activists on issues such as housing, environmental protection and women's health; librarians, journalists, web developers, trainers, technicians, and user support providers. Some of us work for internet service providers (ISP) that are members of the Association For Progressive Communications. Some are independent activists, and some are members of women's organisations.

How we work

We think of the APC WNSP as a networked organisation.

We function both as a programme area of the APC and as a network of women and their organisations involved in activities which promote, support, or facilitate women's access to, use, or shaping of ICT.

The programme and network work virtually. Using a combination of email, mailing lists, chat and social networking tools we coordinate, develop action plans, implement activities, support and mentor one another while maintaining and strengthening our organisational and personal relationships. Of course, we also meet face-to-face whenever opportunities present themselves (such as national, regional or international workshops and conferences) or through explicitly funded workshops and meetings of the programme.

Our mission and objectives

The mission of the Women's Networking Support Programme is to promote gender equity in the design, development, implementation, and use of information and communication technologies - with special focus on inequities based on women's social or ethnic background - through the provision of research, training, information, and support activities in the field of ICT policy, skills-sharing in the access and use of ICT, and women's network-building.

Our goals

to promote the consideration and incorporation of gender in ICT policy-making bodies and forums;
to initiate and implement research activities in the field of gender and ICT;
to advance the body of knowledge, understanding, and skills in the field of gender and ICT by implementing training activities;
to facilitate access to information resources in the field of gender and ICT;

WNSP Work Areas

We engage in research, evaluation, training, information, and support activities in the field of ICT policy, skills-sharing in the access and use of ICT, and women's network-building. Our specialty areas are intertwined with our concerns for women's rights: using ICTs to end violence against women (VAW), gender evaluation, secure online communications for women and girls and sexual rights.