Women peacebuilders in Colombia and new digital solutions

Abstract

AbstractWomen all over the world are using information and communications technology (ICT) to build peace in their communities. Women are natural pioneers of these technologies because the networks they use daily are the foundations that build long‐term peace in their communities. This article discusses the relationship between gender and digital connectivity, investigates whether women have different needs when building peace versus when implementing peace, and uses ICT in peacebuilding in Colombia as a case study. The Colombian government has made significant strides in closing the digital gap, especially in rural areas, and women have taken advantage of ICT to facilitate the Peace Agreement of 2016. The implementation of the peace agreement and digital solutions, however, is posing new challenges to women, including vulnerabilities in physical safety and increasing social and political polarization. Colombia needs to strengthen its efforts to close the digital divide by providing communities with the type of infrastructure and training that will meet their needs. Further, gender‐based technical policy needs to be readdressed to incorporate strategies to combat the current violence women face when using ICT. Colombia needs to prioritize providing a digital state presence to help protect women peacebuilders and hold perpetrators accountable.