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ConclusionThe government of Rwanda is committed to promotingICTs as a key driver for rapid socioeconomicdevelopment. Efforts have been made to put in placean enabling environment for girls to use and benefitfrom ICTs, along with their brothers, through buildinginfrastructure and training – both formal andinformal education.However, statistics show that citizens living inrural areas have limited ownership of ICT devices,such as computers, smartphones and TVs. Most ofthese are women.MYICT has proposed a shift in perspective sothat people no longer see ICTs as something beyondtheir reach, but rather as a tool that offers solutions,services and a system that enables people conducttheir ordinary business in a smart manner. This isexpected to increase the number of female users ofICT devices and services.Data on women’s rights violations online is notenough. For members of Girls in ICT Rwanda, thecurrent struggle is to ensure access to ICTs and thento monitor their positive and negative effects.Action steps• The private sector should continually be encouragedto launch initiatives that expand coverageto rural areas and provide ICT devices and servicesat affordable prices.• Through mentorship and internships, the privatesector should initiate platforms that empowerwomen in getting more knowledge onICTs to help them be whoever they want to be,and to reach their full potential.• Through awareness raising, the governmentshould create an environment that empowersand encourages girls and young women to considercareers in the growing field of ICTs.• The government should support outstandingwomen to make sure that they realise theirgoals in the promotion of ICTs in our country.• Data collection for ICT indicators should considerdisaggregating results on gender to inspireplanning that considers women in ICTs. ■207 / Global Information Society Watch