The Government of Zambia has seen the importance for the country to create a global environment that empowers and encourages young women and girls to consider careers in the growing field of information Communication Technologies (ICTs).
Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Yamfwa Mukanga said there was need to focus on Girls in ICT because of the predicted need for skilled professionals and the fact that many organisations actively seek to hire technical women.
He said the Girls, Women and Innovation theme for this year “Girls and Women and Innovation” looks at expanding horizons, changing attitudes and focusing on ensuring that the mindset of society as whole is changed. This is regard to the role that girls and women play in the ICT sector and that their contribution was just as important as that of their male counterparts.
Change was not an enemy, said Gladys Mutukwa a woman and girls Activista Woman and Girls activist on the occasion to celebrate Girls in ICT day..
“If you welcome change you will move like you are on a wave and those of us who are BBCs (born before computers) as opposed to you born after computers are adapting to ICTs and it is not a wrong thing,” said Mutukwa
“It is nice to see so many young women having an interest in ICTs,” said Mutukwa
The event held on 23th April 2015 at Intercontinental hotel advised girls that change was not an enemy but something that we must adapt.
“I walked into the internet café and I was being asked what I was doing by the attendant who thought I did not know how to operate a computer because I was a grandmother. I am taking it for granted that this come and now I see that ICTs are now required in every areas of our lives,” explained Mutukwa.
“I trained as a lawyer in my time and was the only girl in class. Right now, those of us who are keeping up with our law have to learn on how to get documents from the computer.
Even in agriculture we see people trading and even on the Zambezi river using a mobile phone to communicate and get orders for fish.
The mobile phone has been the greatest revolution of our times,” said Mutukwa.
In terms of women and developments, Mutukwa said there were very few women using the law.
“There don’t know how to use the law. Now that ICTs have come you have no excuse on how to use them. Knowledge is power and it helps you to avoid dangers.I work with women and girls. Women were once girls and the girls become women.
Some of the issues you face as girls we went through them,” explained Mutukwa.
She said in 1995 the Beijingplatform of action identified 12 critical areas of concern.
Critical areas of concern
The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women’s issue. They are the only way to build a sustainable, just and developed society. Empowerment of women and equality between women and men are prerequisites for achieving political, social, economic, cultural and environmental security among all peoples.
All actors should focus action and resources on the strategic objectives relating to the critical areas of concern which are, necessarily, interrelated, interdependent and of high priority. There is a need for these actors to develop and implement mechanisms of accountability for all the areas of concern.
To this end, Governments, the international community and civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, are called upon to take strategic action in the following critical areas of concern:
The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women
Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to education and training
Inequalities and inadequacies in and unequal access to health care and related services
Violence against women
The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women, including those living under foreign occupation
Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of productive activities and in access to resources
Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels
Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women
Lack of respect for and inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women
Stereotyping of women and inequality in women’s access to and participation in all communication systems, especially in the media
Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and in the safeguarding of the environment
Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights of the girl child
Gladys observed that if a lot of things are done to you when you are a girl, you risk your life.
“And if girls know their rights they will know their responsibilities and duties. For the young people of today are to yourself and your sisters keeper because not all the girls have access to the right kindof information,” said Gladys.
She advised girls to use ICTs correctly.
“ Don’t take nude pictures of yourselves. Ask yourselves, is this something I would like to confront 20 years from now when I am Managing Director?
Chewe Mutale a Cyber Security Officer at  Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) also emphasized the need for girls using the internet to secure themselves as Cyber space was not just a virtual world.
“I would like to believe that sometimes you have been a victim of cybercrime. As ZICTA we are trying to get our message out.A project that we have undertaken that is a child online project is an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) project.
“We adopt various issues such as the child online protection. We realise that the biggest users of ICTs are children and that they need Child online protection. We are creating awareness and try to bring the message out to the young users as we need to secure our selves,” said Mutale.
Mutale told the girls that they must be aware that they leave a digital footprint and have to be mindful that everything they do
hasrepercussions.
Mr Victor Mbumwae a Specialist in Information Management at the Ministry of Gender and Child development was pleased with the work being done by the Asikana Network and uploaded them for investing in Girls and ICTs.
He called for investors to take up the opportunity to invest in the area of Girls In ICTs.
Co founders of Asikana network EllaMbewe and ChisengaMuyoyasaid they started Asikana network because there were few women and Girls in ICTs.
Their vision for Asikana Network was aimed at empowering women in ICT related fields. We ultimately seek to see a significant increase of girls and women participating at all levels in ICT.
Their mission is to increase interest in and to enhance the active participation of women in the ICT sector by changing mindsets and eliminating negative stereotypes attached to girls and women in ICT.
Asikana Network aims to empower young women and equip them with ICT skills to help them in their various fields.
Margaret Chalwe Mudenda ZICTA director genderalin her speech said the main goal of the Girls in ICT event was to make girls and young women aware of the challenges and vast opportunities offered by ICTs and give them the confidence to pursue ICT studies and career.
The initiative also aims to raise awareness among parents, teachers and other influences in girls lives.