Reflecting on HER Internet’s #IWD2025 Campaign: A Call to #AccelerateAction and Bridge the Gender #DigitalDivide

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Throughout March 2025, HER Internet marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a month-long campaign, centered on the theme #AccelerateAction to close the gender digital divide and create inclusive, safe, and empowering online spaces for structurally silenced womxn in Uganda.

With a mix of weekly content, community engagement, real stories, and short videos, the campaign broke down what digital exclusion looks like, who it affects most, and what can be done about it.

The Gender Digital Divide in Uganda

In Uganda, the gender digital divide remains stark. According to ActionAid Uganda, as of 2023, 31% of womxn may not own a mobile phone. The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) also notes that while overall internet penetration is growing, access and usage are still biased in favor of men, particularly in rural areas.

Barriers include:

  • High cost of data and devices
  • Low digital literacy among womxn and girls
  • Online harassment and cyber threats
  • Gendered social norms limiting women’s time, mobility, or autonomy online
  • Limited content that speaks to the realities and interests of structurally silenced communities

These factors don’t just block access, they shape who gets to benefit from the digital world, and who gets left behind.

Week One: Understanding the Gender Digital Divide

We opened the campaign with a focus on what the gender #DigitalDivide actually looks like. In a simple but powerful story, we introduced Amina and James. Both are eager to learn and succeed, but only one has a smartphone, steady internet, and access to digital tools. Amina, like many Ugandan womxn, has none of those things. And it’s not because she lacks ambition but the system just isn’t built for her.

Watch:

Barriers affecting womxn from accessing technology featuring insights from Samantha on the realities structurally silenced womxn face online: https://youtube.com/shorts/cksqtcrRSko?si=x-JeEeWz-kP2kgBB

Week Two: The Impact of the Digital Divide

The second week shifted focus to the real-world consequences of digital exclusion. We highlighted Amina’s story again, but this time, with a turning point. After attending a digital skills training led by HER Internet, she learned how to market her small vegetable business, use mobile money, and connect with customers online. Soon, she was earning enough to support her academic journey.

Watch:

What’s one digital skill every womxn should have? Sara Ndugga breaks down why digital literacy is more than a nice-to-have: https://youtube.com/shorts/SASIjMLWsQQ?si=D2NZ1NTTFOQLn0hx

The week also looked at broader issues; how digital exclusion affects education, employment, participation in civic life, and safety online.

Week Three: Recommendations and Action

The final week moved from awareness to action. HER Internet offered concrete policy recommendations for governments and tech companies to bridge the gender digital divide:

  • Fund womxn-centered tech programs
  • Integrate digital literacy into school curricula
  • Make internet and devices more affordable
  • Enforce online safety laws
  • Donate devices or data to womxn in need

The campaign also invited reflection: What can each of us do? Whether it’s teaching a friend how to use mobile banking or reporting online harassment, everyone has a role to play.

Watch:

The role of government in bridging this gap: https://youtube.com/shorts/LnaKmgh9IQA?si=LsYPTTX89TMVUh0N

How tech companies can better serve structurally silenced womxn: https://youtube.com/shorts/j1hsqFgn-gs?si=kThgrtEaRIXeeTqf

Slowing Down with #UnplugFriday

Throughout March, Fridays were dedicated to digital mindfulness. From screen-free music sessions to simple breathing exercises, HER Internet reminded everyone that while access matters, so does intentional, healthy tech use, especially for mental well-being in an always-online world.

A Word on Digital Rights for All

This campaign also marked International Sex Workers’ Rights Day, where we highlighted how sex workers, especially queer and female, face online censorship, harassment, and economic restrictions. We stood firm in the belief that digital rights are human rights, and every womxn deserves safety and freedom of expression online.

The gender digital divide is about power, opportunity, safety, and justice. If womxn are to fully participate in today’s world, they must be equipped, included, and protected in digital spaces. And as HER Internet’s campaign showed, bridging it will take more than awareness, collective action, bold policy, and community-driven solutions.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s #AccelerateAction to close the gender digital divide.

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#AccelerateAction #DigitalDivide #IWD2025 #HERTrivia #QTechUp #UnplugFriday #DigitalInclusion #FeministInternet