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Impact of internet governance arrangementson Arab womenIt is difficult at this point in time to assess the impactof internet governance and policies adopted inthe Arab region on the situation of women. Thereare pressing priorities which need addressing first,such as bridging the gender digital gap in Arab countries.Little attention is allocated to the role of theinternet, for example, in sustainable developmentand how it can effectively change the perception ofwomen and their capabilities. Moreover, it is quite achallenge for Arab countries to devise a clear visionon how to integrate an effective ICT strategy for thebenefit of women. 3Nevertheless, the internet and the widespreaduse of social media specifically have helped computer-literateArab women to advance causes thatare hard to advocate for offline. Cyber feminismis a significant outcome of Arab women using theinternet, which has allowed them to escape thepatriarchal control of centralised organisationsby providing them with a space where their fragmentedsubjectivities can exist; 4 whether any futureinternet governance arrangements will positivelyaffect women in the Arab region entirely dependson whether the decision-making circles are awareof the existing struggle against social and politicalrestraints.ConclusionInternet governance and policy is meant to shapethe future of the internet by involving various stakeholdersusing a bottom-up approach. Encouragingwomen to integrate themselves in the discussionand to influence the decision-making process willhelp them in proposing better policies to addressthe issues at stake and the challenges they are facing.The hope for women in the Arab region is to bein a better position to drive the change, and designa better future for them through the internet. Therefore,efforts should be made by decision makersin the Arab region to be more inclusive and awareof the prominent role women can play in internetpolicy making by establishing a special task forcewith the objective of considering the impact of newtechnologies in general on Arab women’s empowerment.Such an initiative can facilitate women’sintegration in the policy-making scene organically,since it will make them active stakeholders that canadvocate for their own cause. At the same time theywill share their own perspective on internet governanceand policy issues, which in essence is meant tobe multi-stakeholder. ■3 www.diplointernetgovernance.org/profiles/blogs/the-role-ofinformation-and-communication-technologies-in4 www.e-ir.info/2013/08/28/cyberfeminism-and-its-politicalimplications-for-women-in-the-arab-world/62 / Global Information Society Watch