Morocco has implemented multiple policies to ensure women’s empowerment and their greater integration into economic life. The use of new technologies presents an opportunity to accelerate gender equality and promote women’s participation in the development of the country. However, there is still a gender gap in terms of Internet access, which might hinder the integration of women into economic life. Therefore, specific programs for women between 25 and 59 have been set up to provide the appropriate framework for digital entrepreneurship. These programs offer training and workshops to help women acquire the necessary skills to use information and communication technologies. Nevertheless, the misuse of NICTs can lead to prejudice and stereotyped ideas, thus constituting a new source of inequality. The use of new information and communication technologies has also led to the emergence of digital violence once morest women.
Guarantee the empowerment of women, an essential condition for building a viable and developed society. In this sense, multiple policies have been put in place by Morocco to ensure greater integration of women in economic life. Today, new technologies present themselves as being this powerful means capable of to guarantee gender equality by promoting further the participation of women in the development of the kingdom. However, these digital technologies are proving to be a double-edged sword which might, on the other hand, constitute a new source of inequality.
New technologies are now a pillar of women’s empowerment. Here is what emerges from the new report of the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), edited by Mounia Boucetta, Senior Fellow PCNS.
Indeed, digital technologies offer a panoply of opportunities to be seized. They are suitable for game changer in terms of accelerating gender equality. And, this by ensuring the full and meaningful participation of women in all areas and at all levels of public and political life. Moreover, the technological boom now allows many women to work online, both in the field of employment and in that of entrepreneurship.
Entitled “Accessibility of women to economic opportunities in Morocco”, the document underlines, in this sense, that remote work will certainly be more and more developed. Something that is likely to offer more flexibility to workers, depending on their needs.
However, there is still a long way to go in terms of women’s access to new technologies. A study conducted by the High Commission for Planning, in 2020, has also shown that there is still a gender gap in terms of Internet access. A situation that might hinder the integration of women into economic life, especially since digital skills and tools are increasingly necessary to access certain services.
In this direction, the policy brief emphasized the importance and the need to set up specific programs for women whose age brackets vary between 25 and 59, because of their potential and their strong contribution to growth economy of the kingdom. The objective is therefore to provide the appropriate framework for women, particularly those who are embarking on digital entrepreneurship. Knowing that several programs have already been launched by the kingdom and offer training and workshops. The aim is to help women acquire the necessary skills to use information and communication technologies (NTIC) in order to create their own business or find a job.
It should be noted that these digital technologies are, all the same, a double-edged sword. Indeed, a mishandling of NICTs can strongly contribute to the spread of prejudice of the kind and stereotyped ideas, thus constituting a new source of inequalities.
The High Commission for Planning (HCP) has moreover revealed, in a recent information note, published this year on the occasion of World Women’s Day, that the use of new information and communication has led to the emergence of digital violence, in all its forms. NICTs have thus contributed to 19% of violence once morest women.
In conclusion, the use of new digital technologies can undoubtedly help achieve gender equality in economic life and promote women’s empowerment. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is still a long way to go in terms of ensuring access to these technologies for women, and mishandling them can perpetuate inequality and even lead to digital violence. With the implementation of specific programs and training, Morocco is taking steps towards a more inclusive and equitable society. It is up to all of us to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly and for the benefit of all.
