This report was put together by United Nations Women (UN Women) ahead of the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. It focuses on how digitalisation is leading to more gender inequality rather than addressing it. 

The report came together with the recommendations of the Expert Group Meeting (EGM), which comprises 45 experts representing a broad range of organisations, disciplines, and geographic and societal realities. It explains how the COVID-19 pandemic increased the gaps in persistent stereotypes, eventually diminishing women’s participation by preventing equal access to education and jobs, and thus increased the gender digital divide. 

It does a thorough examination of technology through the lens of gender and how it can challenge normative frameworks, international initiatives, policies and programming at all levels. The aim is to provide a wealth of expert information on this critical topic with a broad range of recommendations for all actors, so as to ensure that women and girls – irrespective of their gender, age, race, disability, geographic location, country of origin or economic background – have an equal opportunity to safely and meaningfully access, use, lead, and design technology. This report deserves to be read by a range of people, from policy makers to women’s groups.