Blog by Berthe De Vos Neven, SI Representative to the UN in Geneva and Tania Gómez Herazo, SI AI Advocacy Advisor.
During the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Soroptimist Interntional (SI) hosted a side event, “Encoding Values, Securing Rights: A Gender-Responsive Framework,” highlighting the complex relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and gender equality. In the presence of SI President Siew Yong Siew Yong Gnanalingam, w we were able to explore the expertise of several high-level speakers coming from ITU, European Parliament, and ISACA. The panellists explained the urgency of integrating a gender-responsive lens into emerging technologies to ensure they empower all women and girls and uphold their fundamental human rights, rather than perpetuating and amplifying gender inequalities.
The core message of this event was clear: as AI and digital systems fill our societies, a gender-responsive approach is essential. Panellists emphasised that AI systems, often trained on historical data, can reinforce and amplify gender inequalities. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities, too, have a disproportionate impact on all women and girls, exposing them to heightened risks of digital violence and privacy breaches. Without a gender lens in technology and policy, fundamental rights: education, health, privacy, and non-discrimination, are at stake for half the world’s population.
Panellist Discussions
Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi of the ITU shared inspiring initiatives like the Equals Partnership and Girls in ICTs, as well as the “Women in Cyber Mentorship Program” and “Her Cyber Tracks.” These programs are building skills, mentorship, and community for women in cybersecurity, especially in public policy and incident response. As someone who has worked for digital transformation, digital literacy and capacity-building, I see firsthand how these targeted programs can move the needle.
Lina Gálvez Muñoz, Member of the European Parliament, detailed the EU’s efforts to embed gender sensitivity into AI and cybersecurity regulation, spotlighting the Cyber Resilience Act and Cyber Solidarity Act. The EU’s goal to add 20 million ICT professionals by 2030, with a focus on gender parity, is ambitious and necessary.
The contribution of Professor David Stillwell, University of Cambridge, resonated deeply with me. He made three critical points: first, AI trained on historical data inevitably reflects existing biases. Second, while fine-tuning AI is essential, there’s no universal standard, each company defines “human values” differently. And third, and perhaps most crucially, all women and girls must be actively involved in AI research, education, and policymaking to secure a gender-responsive future. His remarks echo what I often observe: diverse participation is the only path to truly ethical and effective AI.
Andrea Tribelhorn of ISACA Switzerland presented digital trust frameworks that integrate gender-responsive governance, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. She also discussed ISACA’s model that combines different standards to create a simplified governance approach, emphasising that gender-responsive AI and cybersecurity are essential for security, compliance, and human rights.
The consensus was unmistakable: embedding a gender perspective in AI and cybersecurity is foundational for secure, inclusive, and digital societies that embed the rights of all of us. As a Soroptimist, I left convinced that empowering all women and girls in technology is not just fairness, it’s a prerequisite for a just, governed and secure digital future for all.
