Reflecting on the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the past three years of the pandemic has shown the crucial role that digital technology plays in everyday life.

It’s in this vein that she says governments across the globe, and in Trinidad and Tobago in particular, must prioritize the implementation of policies  aimed at bridging the digital gender gap in our populations.

“In the past three years, the crucial role that digital technology plays in the everyday lives of all human beings became most evident, as the world was forced to alter its way of doing business in almost every sphere. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic has also exposed and exacerbated the fact that the ongoing, regressive gender gap that the world continues to grapple with extends to this critical digital sphere, with women being disproportionately affected by the shift to remote work and online learning,” Persad-Bissessar said.

“According to the International Telecommunication Union, women are 8% less likely than men to own a mobile phone and 20% less likely to use the internet. This digital divide has significant implications for women’s access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This is a critical issue that cannot be ignored, as women continue to face significant challenges in accessing and benefiting from technology,” she reflected.