Women and ICTs in the Arab World

2008 ◽  
pp. 3817-3820
Author(s):  
Mohamed El Louadi ◽  
Andrea Everard
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Arab Women ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The One

The digital divide manifests itself on the one hand in the lag in Arab world nations vis-à-vis other more developed countries and on the other hand in the existing inequalities between men and women. Although the United Nations and the World Bank publish a variety of reports on the differences between developed and developing nations, very little data is available to fully grasp the meaning of the gap between genders. In terms of information and communication technologies (ICTs), there are two distinct gaps that need to be recognized: the gap between Arab men and Arab women and the gap between Arab women and women from other nations around the world (Figure 1). Much differs in the lives of men and women. For decades, researchers have published comparative reports, attempting to explain what distinguishes men and women in socio-professional environments. According to Meyers-Levy (1989) men tend to be more comfortable with ICTs and partake more often in gaming and programming. When they use computers, women are more inclined to use them as communication tools. Given women’s presumed lack of experience with technology, their upbringing which is different from men’s, and that the studies they most often pursue are not technology-oriented, it is not surprising that women are generally less inclined to adopt new technologies. Those who nonetheless have tried their hand at browsing the Web were either witness to or victims of offensive language used during interactive discussion sessions; in some cases, they were harassed via e-mail. In order to avoid this unpleasantness, some women assumed male aliases (Herring, 2003). However, since 2000, when men and women reached parity in Web use (Rickert & Sacharow, 2000), it would appear that using the Internet is presently no more intimidating for females than for males. An abundance of other differences between men and women exist. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) acknowledged that there does not exist a society in which women benefit from the same opportunities as men. Everywhere in the world, women are poorer, less educated, and less valued than men. These and other inequalities reduce women’s ability to take advantage of the potential benefits of ICTs and to consequently contribute to their nation’s economic and social development which is in fact facilitated by these same technologies.

Women and ICTs in the Arab World

2011 ◽  
pp. 1230-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed El Louadi ◽  
Andrea Everard
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Arab Women ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The One

The digital divide manifests itself on the one hand in the lag in Arab world nations vis-à-vis other more developed countries and on the other hand in the existing inequalities between men and women. Although the United Nations and the World Bank publish a variety of reports on the differences between developed and developing nations, very little data is available to fully grasp the meaning of the gap between genders. In terms of information and communication technologies (ICTs), there are two distinct gaps that need to be recognized: the gap between Arab men and Arab women and the gap between Arab women and women from other nations around the world (Figure 1). Much differs in the lives of men and women. For decades, researchers have published comparative reports, attempting to explain what distinguishes men and women in socio-professional environments. According to Meyers-Levy (1989) men tend to be more comfortable with ICTs and partake more often in gaming and programming. When they use computers, women are more inclined to use them as communication tools. Given women’s presumed lack of experience with technology, their upbringing which is different from men’s, and that the studies they most often pursue are not technology-oriented, it is not surprising that women are generally less inclined to adopt new technologies. Those who nonetheless have tried their hand at browsing the Web were either witness to or victims of offensive language used during interactive discussion sessions; in some cases, they were harassed via e-mail. In order to avoid this unpleasantness, some women assumed male aliases (Herring, 2003). However, since 2000, when men and women reached parity in Web use (Rickert & Sacharow, 2000), it would appear that using the Internet is presently no more intimidating for females than for males. An abundance of other differences between men and women exist. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) acknowledged that there does not exist a society in which women benefit from the same opportunities as men. Everywhere in the world, women are poorer, less educated, and less valued than men. These and other inequalities reduce women’s ability to take advantage of the potential benefits of ICTs and to consequently contribute to their nation’s economic and social development which is in fact facilitated by these same technologies.

Global Climate Change: Real or Myth?

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
An Inconvenient Truth ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
The One

We, the teeming billions of people on earth, are changing the earth’s climate at an unprecedented rate because we are spewing out greenhouse gases and are heading to a disaster, say most climate scientists. Not so, say the skeptics. We are just experiencing normal variations in earth’s climate and we should all take a big breath, settle down, and worry about something else. Which is it? A national debate has raged for the last several decades about whether anthropogenic (man-made) sources of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) and other so-called “greenhouse gases“ (primarily methane and nitrous oxide) are causing the world to heat up. This phenomenon is usually called “global warming,” but it is more appropriate to call it “global climate change,” since it is not simply an increase in global temperatures but rather more complex changes to the overall climate. Al Gore is a prominent spokesman for the theory that humans are causing an increase in greenhouse gases leading to global climate change. His movie and book, An Inconvenient Truth, gave the message widespread awareness and resulted in a Nobel Peace Prize for him in 2008. However, the message also led to widespread criticism. On the one hand are a few scientists and a large segment of the general American public who believe that there is no connection between increased CO2 in the atmosphere and global climate change, or if there is, it is too expensive to do anything about it, anyway. On the other hand is an overwhelming consensus of climate scientists who have produced enormous numbers of research papers demonstrating that increased CO2 is changing the earth’s climate. The scientific consensus is expressed most clearly in the Fourth Assessment Report in 2007 by the United Nations–sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the fourth in a series of reports since 1990. The IPCC began as a group of scientists meeting in Geneva in November 1988 to discuss global climate issues under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Program.

scholarly journals Arab Women and Civil Society

1970 ◽  
pp. 10-11
Author(s):  
Heba El-Shazli
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Women Activists ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Arab Women ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Road ◽  
The World

How have women in the Arab world fared in the development and promotion of civil society in the region? The following contributions to this issue of Al-Raida will give us a glimpse into the world of women activists in Arab civil society and whether they have made any achievements. One will conclude that the road is still long and arduous, yet important steps have been taken by men and women activists working to promote the role of Arab women in civil society organizations.

Dag Hammarskjöld as Leader: A Problem of Definition

1982 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-635
Author(s):  
L.S. Trachtenberg
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Secretary General ◽  
Empty Shell ◽  
National Leader ◽  
The World ◽  
Effective Performance ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The One ◽  
Dag Hammarskjold

The Secretary-Generalship of the United Nations is a unique post. While enjoying none of the actual powers of a great national leader, the Secretary-General, by virtue of his position and prestige, has unrivalled possibilities for constructive and conciliatory action in the world, and in times of crisis he also has an ultimate, though vaguely defined, responsibility for maintaining the peace. Of all important public positions, his is perhaps the one in which spiritual strength, integrity, and courage are most essential to effective performance, for without them the office, lacking the normal trappings and supports of power, is an empty shell of high-sounding principles and good but unfulfilled intentions.

scholarly journals Network analysis regarding international organisations and donors of humanitarian aid

2022 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Chool Choi
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Development Program ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
United Nations Development Program ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations

This study aims to evaluate the status of the partnerships with important international organisations that Korea employs in operating its foreign aid projects from a humanitarian point of view. On the basis of this information, Korea intends to seek ways of effectively supporting underdeveloped countries through future co-operation with these organisations. The main international organisations analysed are the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the (United Nations) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These international organisations support underdeveloped countries through co-operative relationships not only with Korea but also with important donor countries of the OECD. This study focuses on establishing the factors that Korea needs to consider when providing humanitarian aid in the future to underdeveloped countries via such international organisations.

scholarly journals Exploring anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability in the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank Group, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian Clare Kohler ◽  
Andrea Bowra
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Development Program ◽  
World Health ◽  
World Bank Group ◽  
United Nations Development Program ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Nations Development

Abstract Corruption is recognized by the global community as a threat to development generally and to achieving health goals, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal # 3: ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. As such, international organizations such as the World Health Organizations and the United Nations Development Program are creating an evidence base on how best to address corruption in health systems. At present, the risk of corruption is even more apparent, given the need for quick and nimble responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, which may include a relaxation of standards and the rapid mobilization of large funds. As international organizations and governments attempt to respond to the ever-changing demands of this pandemic, there is a need to acknowledge and address the increased opportunity for corruption. In order to explore how such risks of corruption are addressed in international organizations, this paper focuses on the question: How are international organizations implementing measures to promote accountability and transparency, and anti-corruption, in their own operations? The following international organizations were selected as the focus of this paper given their current involvement in anti-corruption, transparency, and accountability in the health sector: the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank Group, and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Our findings demonstrate that there has been a clear increase in the volume and scope of anti-corruption, accountability, and transparency measures implemented by these international organizations in recent years. However, the efficacy of these measures remains unclear. Further research is needed to determine how these measures are achieving their transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption goals.

scholarly journals The World Conference Of The UN Mid-Decade Women

1970 ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Rugh M. Besha
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
World Conference ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The One

In issue 15 of AI-Raida(2), a very brief report was made on the «Mid-Decade World Conference of the United Nations for Women» held at Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-30 July 1980. The article was based on various reports about the Conference, especially the one stating women's specific needs in the list of«Resolutions and Decisions» adopted by the Conference.

scholarly journals UN World Tourism Organization’s Contributions to World Tourism

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Andaç
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
National Income ◽  
Development Program ◽  
United Nations Development Program ◽  
The World ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
World Tourism Organization ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Specialized Institutions ◽  
Tourism Organization

According to the UN World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) rules, this organization’s aim is to promote tourism through economic development, international understanding, peace, security, basic human rights and freedom, and to show respect throughout the world without exception of race, gender or religion. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was founded in 1924 under the United Nations and it has been continuing its activities in Madrid, Spain since 1970. The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) takes all necessary measures with tourism in order to achieve its goals. The UNWTO pays strict attention to the interests of developing countries in the field of tourism. For this reason, the UNWTO has a close relationship in the tourism field with the United Nations’ authorities and specialized institutions. It deals with the tourism problems of all countries and supports their contributions to tourism by international agreements. On the other hand, the UNWTO is cooperating with the United Nations Development Program and tries to contribute to the activities of this program. All countries are expected to be a member of the UNWTO and adopt its principles, because tourism will make it possible for them to increase National Income and Development. Macedonia hasn’t applied to be a member of this organization yet, but it is important to start the attempts immediately.

scholarly journals UN Decade For Women 1975-1985

1970 ◽  
pp. 4-6
Author(s):  
Lebanese American University
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Women's Organizations ◽  
Equal Rights ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Women’S Organizations

When the United Nations was formed, women's organizations around the world successfully pushed for inclusion of a commitment to the equal rights of men and women in the UN Charter.

scholarly journals Two Thousand New, Million-Person Cities by 2050 – We Can Do It!

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan E. Goldie ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
World Population ◽  
City Management ◽  
The World ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
New City ◽  
The Third World

In 1950 three quarters of a billion people lived in large towns and cities, or 30% of the total world population of over 2.5 billion. By 2009 this had grown to 3.42 billion, just over half of a total population of over 6.8 billion. The United Nations Secretariat currently forecasts that in 2050 6.4 billion, 67% of a total of almost 9.6 billion people will live in urban areas. Just over a third of that growth, around one billion people, is expected to be in China, India and Nigeria, but the remaining two billion will be in the countries around those countries: a massive arc stretching across the world from West Africa through the Middle East, across Asia and into the Pacific. In these other countries, an additional two billion urban residents over thirty years translates into a need to build a new city for a population of one million people, complete with hospitals, schools, workplaces, recreation and all the rest, at a rate of more than four a month: 2000 cities, in countries with little urban planning capability! In addition, the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) include goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities "Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”, so these new cities should demonstrate a level of planning competence and city management ability that many towns and cities in the world are struggling to achieve. Notwithstanding the scale of the problem, the size and cost of the planning effort is demonstrated to be feasible, provided that action is swift and new technologies are developed and applied to the planning and approvals processes. Of course, taking these plans to construction is a much bigger effort, but the economy of cities is strongly circular, meaning that the initial cash injection generates jobs that pay wages that are spent on rent and goods within the city, which then generate profits that fund developments that generate jobs, etc. However, this requires good governance, a planning consideration that must also be addressed if the full benefits of planning, designing and building 2000 cities in the Third World are to be enjoyed by the citizens of those cities. Finally, failure is not an option, because “If we don't solve this equation, it is not that people will stop coming to cities. They will come anyhow, but they will live in slums, favelas and informal settlements” (Arevena, 2014), and we know that slums the world over produce crime, refugees and revolution, and then export these problems internationally, one way or another. The world most certainly does not want more refugees or another Syria, so planners must rescue us from that future, before it happens!

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