Gender Equality and Digital Development: Insights from the UNGIS Side Event at CSW70
16/04/2026
On March 13th, 2026, the United Nations Group on the Information Society (UNGIS) hosted the side event “Leaving No Woman or Girl Behind: UN System-Wide Cooperation in Action” in conjunction of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
The session was dedicated to enhancing women's and girls' digital inclusion.
The initiative, which is part of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and in line with Resolution A/RES/80/173, reaffirms the importance of achieving full and equal participation in the digital ecosystem, while placing an emphasis upon the urgency for action to address various manifestations of violence against woman and girls that can be facilitated by technology.
Speakers from across the UN system stressed that gender equality within all digital transformation policies, governance frameworks and implementation processes is critical in order to achieve gender equality as well as to address existing structural gaps in access to connectivity, affordability, digital literacy and STEM education; and thus to increase women's representation in ICT governance and decision-making.
Common points among the interventions emphasized the need for digital transformation to enable women's economic participation, entrepreneurship and leadership, and for discussion of the emerging risks and challenges associated with digital technology including online harassment, AI-related bias and other technology facilitated violence which continue to restrict women's and girls' participation in digital spaces. Participants stressed the importance of gender-responsive data; monitoring frameworks; and collaborating across different sectors, such as education, governance, human rights and innovation.
For the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, these priorities are particularly relevant in rural contexts, where women face persistent barriers in accessing connectivity, digital tools and services. Increasing access to digital skills and providing equitable access to information and technology will help to improve women’s livelihoods, build their resilience, and create more inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.
The side event also launched a coordinated process to develop a WSIS Action Plan on Women and Girls, aimed at strengthening policy coherence and supporting system-wide implementation across UN entities and stakeholders.