Digit ALL

Wednesday March 8th was International Women’s Day—a global holiday celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Yesterday we commemorated the day in Kakamega Youth empowerment Center.It is was a day women we called attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. This year’s United Nation’s theme for the day was DigitALL: Innovation andtechnology for gender equity. According to World Pulse through Ambassador Kristine women have made untold contributions to the digital world from the earliest days of computing to the present age of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Their accomplishments have been against all odds, in a field that has historically neither welcomed nor appreciated them.Unfortunately there is still a persistent gender gap in digital access that keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential. According to recent data from the AnitaB.org, representation of women in IT is trending in the wrong direction. In 2022, more than half of companies lost 20% of their tech workforce to attrition, with women technologists (16%) leaving at a higher rate than men at (13%). Twice as many women left their tech jobs in 2022 than in 2021 bringing us down to pre pandemic numbers of 27% of technology roles filled by women compared to nearly 29% in 2020. Yet digital technology is opening new doors for the global empowerment of women, girls and other marginalized groups. From gender-responsive digital learning to tech-facilitated sexual and reproductive healthcare, the digital age represents an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate all forms of disparity and inequality. Bringing women and other marginalized groups into technology requires breaking barriers and redefining sociocultural, educational, and economic codes. We need equal access to education for women and girls, and clear pathways and inclusive workplaces for women in STEM fields.Fortunately there are many World Pulse Ambassadors around the world who are working to empower and support women in tech roles. I celebrate World Pulse Ambassadors, Hon Elsie, Hon Victoria today that operate globally and others that are country specific from the US, Canada, Australia, Africa, and Europe, and there are many more.