Women’sNet: Let technology carry our voices

Anne Shongwe, Director of Afroes spoke of how her organisation uses transformational games and social media to create awareness on VAW issues. Afroes has created a GBV Prevention Game which has a quiz that educates and empowers users about GBV. “The Morabaq Game is a free mobile game and a quiz adaptation of the board game Morabaraba, aimed at helping identify what GBV is; to empower users to take action; and changing mindsets” added Shongwe. Afroes is exploring option to put the GBV Prevention Game on MXIT to reach children. The game can be downloaded onto cellphone from the link: http://t.co/m98k1Am

Nhlanhla Mokoena, executive director of POWA said that Mobiles are used by men to track women's whereabouts because there is lack of trust and high level of jealousy. Mokoena encouraged women to archive mobile messages to use as evidence when reporting violence to police. She also emphasised that it was important that women be present in ICT spaces so that their voices be heard.

Linking the story published on Sowetan August 15 2011 about a correctional officer and a police woman having sex, William Bird of Media Monitoring Africa said “Without technology, video of two officers would never have ended up online. There is interchange between media and technology”.

Kate Skinner of the Right to Know (R2K) campaign said that it was important for women’s rights organisations to become content producers in the digital broadcasting era.

Those who were not able to attend the event in person joined the tweet-up on popular social network Twitter using the hash tag TechVAW. What gave the seminar a climax is that by the end of the discussions, the hash tag #TechVAW was trending on Twitter in the Johannesburg area, - meaning it was the most talked about issue.

Way forward:
From the seminar it was agreed that we need to engage with public media platforms including our public broadcaster said Skinner, so that the space opens up to involve women and organisations working on gender violence. The SABC was identified as a critical partner in raising awareness on digital dangers and the many ways that people can use to be safe online buy working with the collective that attended the seminar. Together with SOS (SAVE OUR SABC) the seminar looked at the opportunities presented by Digital Migration and saw the need to link with institutions such Department of Communication to ensure the space for content development including those working with women and in the gender sector.

Lebo Marishane, Women’sNet co-director asked a very critical question in her closing remarks. She asked “where are women in ICTs?” She urged that we constantly be innovating, but also get involved in the politics of ICTs. In conclusion, delegates took a personal pledge saying “I dont create or forward violence” a key message from the seminar that will be carried as a campaign with multiple stakeholder going forward. This seminar was directed at civil society, the next phases will include ICT policy makers and industry players to make real outcomes of the seminar.

To take part in the online discussions on this issue, please contact Eva Ramokobala: eva [at] womensnet [dot] org [dot] za or Lerato Legoabe: lerato [at] womensnet [dot] org [dot] za