Commemoration of Women’s International Day: Launching of a Handbook for the Protection of Women in Conducting Digital Campaigns for Diversity and Tolerance and Public Discussion of Social Media as a Tool for Diversity Campaigns

The special theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “DigitAll: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”. This theme reminds us of the changing world powered by innovation and technology which in turn also changes women’s lives. On the one hand, women get a platform to participate in all forms of public life through social media, but on the other hand, social media is also a new world that is not always friendly to women.

This theme is based on the results of a 2021 survey from the Harmony Program funded by USAID, with the aim of documenting the participation and substantive role of women participating in the Harmony Program to build peace and tolerance. The survey results show that female figures who campaign to build peace and tolerance in society and through social media are often the targets of threats or counterattacks.

As a follow-up to the survey, the Harmony Program and the Gender and Sexuality Study Unit of LPPSP FISIP UI developed guidelines to reduce risks/mitigate threats faced by women conducting digital campaigns. The handbook is based on a consultation process conducted with broad participation from influential women, experts, government agencies, civil society representatives, and human rights institutions in Indonesia. This guide provides measures to protect women at risk from their digital campaigns to prevent violent extremism and intolerance.

In this regard and in commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Harmony Program and the Gender and Sexuality Study Unit of LPPSP FISIP UI launched a guidebook for the protection of women in digital campaigning for diversity and tolerance and held a public discussion with the theme “Social Media as a Campaign Tool: Opportunities and Challenges for Women” on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 10.00-12.00 WIB located at the Singosari Ballroom,  Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Central Jakarta.

The event aims to disseminate a guidebook for the protection of women in digital campaigning to civil society organizations, women activists of diversity and tolerance, academia, and government; provide information about women’s experiences in conducting diversity and tolerance campaigns through social media; and discuss challenges and opportunities for women using social media as a tool for diversity campaigns.