Ministerial round tables on the priority theme
“Good practices in addressing barriers to bridge the gender digital divide and promote education in the digital age for achieving gender equality”
4th plenary meeting – Commission on the Status of Women, Sixty-seventh session (CSW67)
7th March 2023, 10-11.30 a.m.
Statement by H.E. Eugenia Maria Roccella, Minister for Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities, Italy
Dear President,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to seat at this Roundtable with so highly valued colleagues from different countries.
Nowadays the promotion of equal opportunities for men and women and the empowerment of women and girls requires a long-term vision due to multiple challenges to be tackled all at once by institutions, businesses and civil society. The common goal is managing and overcoming gender gaps that, when perpetuated, risk to corroborate cultural stereotypes and social prejudices against women and girls at the national and international level.
The digital divide that affects women’s roles in contemporary society is twofold it regards personal and professional perspectives.
Knowledge and usage of digital tools are crucial for balancing care, social and occupational commitments and to ensure support to motherhood without giving up personal aspirations and choices. In addition, new technologies can eradicate cultural gender stereotypes and assist women in managing their responsibilities as mothers and workers.
Italy has faced this challenge in the post-pandemic period: at the National level, the Recovery and Resilience Plan – funded by the European Union – provides specific and considerable investments in digitalization and innovation, green transition and social inclusion, devoting particular attention to the education in STEM disciplines.
This initiative has been focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: digital education necessarily entails social and cultural enhancement of women and girls.
Resetting the digital gender gap for Italy means providing girls and women with a level playing field in digital technologies literacy including the Internet and developing digital skills to contribute their design and production.
The national action “Digital Republic”, launched in 2022, that includes a focus on overcoming the gender digital dive in digital skills, is an example of how to create synergies and promoting interventions to support women’s participation in digital transformation processes.
Promoting information and communication technology along with STEM skills, among girls, is crucial to make them believe they can play a key role as digital change agents and that they can fulfil their personal and professional life choices without waiting their dreams and desires.
Thank you for your attention.
