Title: The Suitcase Radio has arrived in Tonga!
Source: Scoop News
Date (published): 16/09/2011
Date (accessed): 21/09/2011
Type of information: press release
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"A team of seven young women in Nuku’alofa will be paving the way for more youth involvement in Pacific media content development, production and broadcast as a new “suitcase” community radio station is installed in Tonga’s capital this weekend. The young women, who are the first recruits of the Generation Next Tonga team of producers and broadcasters, to tell their stories as well as produce and broadcast radio programmes sourced through a range of civil society groups including the Tonga CSO Forum, Friendly Islands Human Rights and Democracy Movement, Langafanua, the Red Cross and the Talitha Project which is assisting in the coordination of the Generation Next Tonga team.:
“Your involvement of young women in the community radio initiative is just wonderful,” said Head of Tonga’s Women's Affairs Division Polotu Paunga Fakafanua, referring to the Generation Next component of the community media project based at Ma’afafine moe Famili in partnership with FemLINKPACIFIC and supported by the Canada Fund and AUSAID.

This is the second community radio station to be established within the Regional Women’s Media and Policy Network coordinated by FemLINKPACIFIC and the “Generation Next” project has been a successful model of involving young women to pick up a tape recorder, produce programmes from local communities and take to the airwaves:

“They are learning for the next generation of gender equality advocates,” she said, “because it will translate with the people they will work with, in the home, as well as through the radio, highlighting gender equality to the rural areas,” affirming the role of community radio to not only disseminate information to rural communities but to also provide critical anecdotal evidence to inform public policy formulation and decision making:
“The collection of data and information to support policy advice and reports, as well as interventions from the rural areas,” referring to the programmes which will be produced."

Title: Danger or opportunity? ICTs and Women's human rights defenders
Source: GenderIT.org
Date (published): 13/09/2011
Date (accessed): 14/09/2011
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"This edition of GenderIT.orgi is dedicated to women's human rightsi defenders. Those working on women's and sexual rightsi often face challenges not only in the public space, but in their personal space, from their family and partners, as well. In this edition, we examine what new dimension brings ICTs into this struggle, how they are used to mobilize around women's and sexual rights, and the risks many defenders face online.
Security emerged as not only one of the main topics in our interviews but also in living practice, forcing us to question and change our communication protocols in order to pull this edition together without jeopardizing the safety of our interviewees. We hope then that you find the readings engaging!

This edition is a part of APC's “Connect your rights: Internet rights are human rights” campaign financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)"

Contents:
* The changing face of women's rights activism: be careful what you say online
* “Defending yourself means defending your community”
* ICT skills gap = online security risks
* Connectedness or alienation?
* Who's gonna track me?
* Secure communications essential to women's rights defenders

Title: Gender Equality in Free and Open Source Software
Source: Wikigender
Date (published): 22/07/2011
Date (accessed): 01/08/2011
Type of information: wiki post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"Gender Equality is one of UNESCO’s global priorities, together with Africa. Within this framework, UNESCO seeks to promote women empowerment and to mainstream gender in all UNESCO policies, strategies and programs.
UNESCO’s believes that the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) model provides interesting tools and processes with which women and men can create, exchange, share and exploit software and knowledge efficiently and effectively. FOSS can play an important role as a practical instrument for development as its free and open aspirations make it a natural component of development efforts in the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Community “Gender equality in free and Open Source Software” aims at creating a network of different institutions, networks and actors that deal with the Gender Gap in FOSS."

via http://www.ictdev.org/

Title: Democratic Republic of the Congo: Two sides of the same ICT coin - breaking the silence /breaking the laws
Author: Mavic Cabrera-Balleza
Source: GenderIT.org
Date (published): 28/07/2010
Date (accessed): 04/08/2010
Type of information: article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
GenderIT.org writer Mavic Cabrera-Balleza speaks with Sylvie Niombo and Francoise Mukuku, ICTi activists from Congo-Brazzaville and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) respectively. They discuss various facets of the information and communication technologies and the context to which they apply in the DRC . The interviewees elaborate on how ICTs can be used to reduce incidence of violence against women and how it is also widely used in ways that aggravate the violence and violate privacy laws. They also explain why access to ICTs is critical to the DRC and how it can be used to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Title: The Dangers and Opportunities of Girls in Cyberspace
Author: Wayan Vota
Source: ICTWorks
Publisher: Inveneo
Date (published): 02/08/2010
Date (accessed): 03/08/2010
Type of information: blog post
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
"Girls in Cyberspace: Dangers and Opportunities" (PDF) from Plan USA examines both the challenges and empowering possibilities facing girls when accessing ICTs (Information Communication Technologies). In many ways, technology has facilitated girls’ ability to do what they were already doing: connecting, learning and sharing. ICTs have also increased their opportunities to do these things and to interact beyond their immediate communities.
Although adolescent girls are not a homogeneous group, and the way they choose to interact with ICTs may vary according to their location, social-economic status, capacity for mobility and personal inclination, there are some common threads emerging from Plan’s analysis."

Title: Technicians, Tacticians and Tattlers: Women as Innovators and Change Agents in Community Technology Projects
Author: Helen McQuillan
ISSN: 1712-4441
Source: The Journal of Community Informatics, Volume 5, Issue 3 (2010)
Date (published): 05/05/2010
Date (accessed): 23/07/2010
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Dominant theoretical and policy perspectives on women and ICT portray women as passive, excluded, disinterested or disconnected from technology. This paper reports on a five year ethnographic study which explored women’s roles, experiences and contribution to a large-scale community technology project in Ireland. It discusses how feminist archetypes were used to develop an interpretive model which examines women’s engagement and agency in ICT, illustrates women’s diverse and active roles and offers a new paradigm for women’s ICT knowledge and expertise. In conclusion it discusses how this model could be applied to other settings to better understand digital inclusion and empowerment processes.

Title: Women Forge Ahead in India: Internet and the Public Forum
Authors: Kavita Karan, Dr. Rohit Raj Mathur
ISSN: 1712-4441
Source: The Journal of Community Informatics, Volume 5, Issue 3 (2010)
Date (published): 05/05/2010
Date (accessed): 23/07/2010
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Women must be included and empowered to compete in this internet-driven global economy. The economic stakes are too high to do otherwise. This study provides an understanding of the economic and social impact on women working in the government launched E-seva (electronic-service) project that provides integrated services through a single window system. The study through interviews and surveys provides an understanding of how Internet and new technologies are aiding in the transformation process in empowering the much deprived poor Indian women. Apart from increasing the access and use of ICTs, it is resulting in economic independence and improved social status.-which is the very basic need for women in India

Title: 89.1 FM: The Place for Development: Power shifts and participatory spaces in ICTD
Authors: Revi Sterling, Sophia Huyer
ISSN: 1712-4441
Source: The Journal of Community Informatics, Volume 5, Issue 3 (2010)
Date (published): 05/05/2010
Date (accessed): 23/07/2010
Type of information: peer-reviewed article
Language: English
On-line access: yes (HTML)
Abstract:
Kamba women in listening range of community radio station Radio Mang’elete have been able to hear themselves on the radio now for four years, providing market information, notification of social events, discussion forums and entertainment in the forms of radio vignettes and plays. These women are not broadcasters in the traditional sense – they provide their insights from their homes, social spaces and areas of work, using a technology system called Advancement through Interactive Radio, or AIR. While AIR was introduced into the target communities four years ago, it continues to enjoy success, as women suggest programming and offer content that enables them to speak out publically. Qualitative and quantitative data from ongoing analysis suggests that participants have experienced increased agency and positive self perception as well as recognition of their input from the larger community. Preliminary indicators demonstrate women are not only choosing to participate in this opportunity for public self-articulation, but are realizing how such articulation can contribute to their empowerment as both individuals and women – roles that have traditionally relegated women to “doubly” marginalized roles.