Training Workshop by FIRE:

Using Technology for Political Activism
in the Women's Movement

Women reconstructing their own space of participation on the Web...

 San José, RIF/FIRE

 

A training workshop on political activism by  women through the use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs),  was conducted Feminist International Radio Endeavour (RIF/FIRE) November 3- 7, in San José, Costa Rica.

The aim of the workshop was to develop technological know-how which combines analysis of the challenges that women have in light of the so-called “Information Society,” and the demands of the women´s movement in the communication and information spectrum.

 

 According to organizers of the activity, the convergence of new technologies as instruments of communications as well as technological applications for political activism, requires a deep analysis of the political and economic components of power and inequality.  The establishment of the relationship between feminism and technology in its historical dimension is also crucial.  Participants will also do hands-on  training in web design, chat, internet forums, mail lists, etc.

Among the issues addressed in the workshop were the following: universal access, the democratization of media and technologies, sexism, discrimination and the oppression of women in the virtual content.

Thirty women from the feminist movement in Latin America, all of them with experience in the use of the Internet for political activism, took part in the workshop also addressed the main actions and challenges that women have undertaken to engender the UN World Summit on the Information Society.  They designed a series of actions to get involved in the process towards the Geneva meeting in December of this year.

FIRE also broadcast the voices of the women live on Friday, Nov. 6, which gave participants an opportunity to share their experiences and insights with a wider audience.

The workshop was possible thanks to the contribution of Hivos/Humanistic Institute for the Cooperation with Developing Countries, Genevieve Vaughan, founder of FIRE and to the feminist movement for its determination to harness communications and new technologies to their political activism.

 

Participant Organizations: 

El Salvador:  Fundación Clic Arte y Nuevas Tecnologías;  CORAMS, Centro de Orientación Radial para la Mujer Salvadoreña.

Costa Rica: Gender Program of the Technological Institute; Fundación Acceso; Unión Mundial por la Naturaleza.

Guatemala: La Tertulia; Kaqla;  Voces de Mujeres; Red Mujeres al Aire, Contemporánea Consultoras;

Nicaragua: Colectivo de Mujeres contra la Violencia; Servicios Integrales para la Mujer SI Mujer; Colectivo de Mujeres 8 de marzo;   Asociación de Mujeres de Jalapa contra la Violencia Oyanka;   Fundación Xochiquetzal.

Honduras: Centro de Derechos de las Mujeres / CDM; Colectiva del Centro de Estudios de la Mujer/CEMH; Comunicación Comunitaria /COMUN; Enlace de Mujeres Negras/ENMUNEH, Colectiva de Mujeres de Honduras, CODEMUH.

South America: Casa de la Mujer de Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Asociación Promoción y Desarrollo de la Mujer PRODEMU en Perú; Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir, Latinoamérica, Argentina.