DOST official shares PH efforts on gender digital gap and AI education for women at international conference
DOST official shares PH efforts on gender digital gap and AI education for women at international conference
By Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII
Official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shared how the Philippine government try to overcome gender digital divide and ensure that women gain access to transformative technologies, while also safeguarding them from potential harm caused by Artificial Intelligence.
In an interactive dialogue for the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York City on 22 March 2024, DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) Director Franz de Leon emphasized the reaffirming commitment of the country to leveraging technology to promote gender equality during the interactive dialogue on the emerging issue of Artificial Intelligence to advance gender equality.
"While there are significant challenges to overcome, AI presents numerous opportunities for advancing gender equality when developed and deployed thoughtfully, ethically, and inclusively. It requires collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, technologists, researchers, and civil society organizations, to harness the full potential of AI for promoting gender equality,” said Dir. de Leon.
In his presentation, Dir. De Leon highlights how the Philippines, through its various government agencies, train women in AI, data science, analytics, and related fields through online learning, as well as the government initiatives to refine the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap with the aim of mainstreaming gender in PH AI policies.
To protect women and girls from the potential harms of AI, the Philippines has implemented various gender-related laws, such as the Magna Carta of Women, Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act, Safe Spaces Act, Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children Act, and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act, among others.
Meanwhile, in his message, Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Antonio M. Lagdameo reminded everyone of the shared responsibility to eradicate women’s and girls’ poverty and address all the barriers that are standing in the way.
"We are meeting today at a critical time for the lives and livelihoods of women and girls. The challenges to fulfill their rights and needs are unprecedented in scale and complexity. Foremost among these is their fundamental right to a life of safety, dignity, and prosperity,” the Ambassador said.
The CSW68 interactive dialogue provides an opportunity to delve deeper into Artificial Intelligence and how it can be harnessed to fulfill the human rights of women and girls.
With the theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective,” the Commission serves as the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. (Information from DOST-ASTI and Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York’s Official Facebook Pages)
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