Expanding digital access for women and girls helps facilitate equal access to economic opportunities and essential services, including education, healthcare, banking, and so on. But digital tools can also expose women and girls to the risk of gender-based violence, including online violence and harassment.

Unsafe spaces do not only harm women and girls, but they also limit female education, employment and participation in public life, holding back human potential and economic growth. Safe online spaces can help women thrive, reach their potential, and access employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Hear from some of South Asia’s leading digital rights advocates on how to create a safe digital space to #ClearHerPath to women’s economic empowerment.

 

Soumya

Soumya Mehta Panelist

Senior Economist, World Bank

Soumya Mehta is a Senior Economist with the India Country Management Unit of the World Bank. Before that, Soumya served as the Task Team Leader for the India Gender and Social Inclusion Platform, where she helped shape the Bank’s engagement on several critical agendas such as childcare and tribal welfare, and led a series of core analytics including the Country Gender Assessment. Between 2019 and 2021, she was the Head of the Institute of What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE), India’s premier gender research and policy advocacy center.

Dovan

Dovan Rai Panelist

Executive Director, Body & Data

Dovan Rai is a computer scientist, educator, and writer. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Body & Data, a nonprofit organization advocating for digital rights and a feminist internet. She holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from WPI, USA, with research focused on the intersection of educational psychology, game design, and AI. She has worked as a software engineer, designer, researcher, and educator, teaching in both Nepal and the USA. She has led youth education initiatives and contributes writings on socio-political issues in Nepal.

Nicole

Nicole Klingen Moderator

Director of Strategy and Operations for South Asia, World Bank

Nicole Klingen is the World Bank’s Director for Strategy and Operations in the South Asia Region. In this role, she contributes to the design and successful implementation of the strategic objectives for the Region, supports the Vice President in overseeing the Region’s day-to-day operations, budget, and staffing, and champions and implements corporate priorities and partnerships, including delivering as One World Bank Group and enhancing operational effectiveness. 

Monday, December 8  - 3:25-4:30 PM IST