Our Common Humanity in the Information Age. Principles and Values for Development

§ the persistence of violence against women and girls; 
§ the serious under-representation of women in decision-making; 
§ the continuation of discriminatory laws; 
§ inequalities in access to and control over economic resources, and
§ the devastating effects of conflict on women and girls, particularly sexual violence. 
In addition, new challenges for women’s empowerment and gender equality have 
emerged over the past decade, including:
§ eliminating the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV/AIDS; 
§ effectively addressing trafficking in women and girls; and 
§ mobilizing the new information and communication technologies (ICT) in support of 
gender equality and women’s empowerment.
At the 2005 World Summit, world leaders declared that “progress for women is progress 
for all” – illustrating that none of the goals of development, human rights and peace and 
security can be achieved if equality between women and men is not secured. Unless 
sufficient attention is given to MDG3 on gender equality and empowerment of women, 
and to the gender perspectives in all other MDGs, none of the MDGs can be achieved.
The MDGs represent an important new opportunity to enhance the focus on gender 
equality at national level, leading to real change on the ground in the lives of women and 
girls.
The information society also presents a potential to increase the access of women and 
girls to information and opportunities to redress discrimination and open up new 
possibilities for empowerment and equality. However, the overall discrimination and 
inequality women face is also seriously affecting access to and benefits from ICT for 

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Chapter IV – Equality and Opportunity | 71 
women and girls in many parts of the world and this is a challenge which needs to be 
explicitly addressed.
Fully utilizing the unique opportunities for change that the MDGs and ICT represent, 
requires enhanced political commitment at high levels and significantly increased 
dedicated resources. 
* * * 
In this chapter, in the article “ Equality in Genetic Terms ”, Allan Bradley explains the 
biological meaning of equality. In her paper on Women’s Empowerment and ICTs”, 
Renate Bloem of the Conference of NGOs talks about the important role her organization 
played in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and presents the 
contribution of ICTs to women’s empowerment. Dho Young-Shim explains the role of 
tourism in development in “Achieving Equality through Tourism” while talking about her 
experience in Korea.
June Zeitlin of WEDO in “ Gender Equality: Architecture and UN Reforms ” looks at the 
gains of women’s movement as well as the challenges. Dennis Anderson of Pace 
University explains the “Impact of ICTs on Values ”, while Linda Grover talks about her 
proposal to have a Global Family Day to contribute to the understanding of equality and 
peace. Stacey Roussel in “Thoughts on Equality” talks about globalization and equality.