Bridging the Digital Divide: Capacity Building for Women in Internet Policy


Internet Society

Session 137

Monday, 6 July 2026 09:00–09:45 (UTC+02:00) Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation Room K2, ITU Montbrillant Building Interactive Session
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Physical (on-site) and Virtual (remote) participation


Despite significant progress in global Internet access, women—particularly in the Global South—remain underrepresented in Internet governance and digital policy spaces. Bridging this gap requires more than connectivity; it demands targeted capacity building that equips women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively shape policy and regulatory frameworks.

This session brings together emerging women leaders from across regions working at the intersection of Internet policy, AI governance, cybersecurity, and digital rights. Through their diverse experiences, the discussion will explore how capacity-building initiatives can translate into meaningful participation in decision-making processes, highlight persistent barriers, and identify practical pathways to foster more inclusive and representative Internet governance ecosystems.

Panellists
Ms. Raneem Zaitoun
Ms. Raneem Zaitoun Youth Ambassador Internet Society, Fellowship (Canada)

 I am a policy analyst and entrepreneur specializing in digital governance, AI policy, and Internet regulation. My work focuses on translating complex frameworks into clear insights to support evidence-based decision-making. I’ve worked on G7 security documents and served as a Youth Envoy for the International Telecommunication Union, where I helped develop recommendations for the UN Global Digital Compact. I believe the Internet must be governed through an inclusive approach that highlights digital rights and youth perspectives.


Ms. Francesca Chocano Villanueva
Ms. Francesca Chocano Villanueva Youth Ambassador Internet Society, Fellowship (Argentina) Moderator

As a Latin American lawyer working on digital rights and technology policy, I’ve spent several years focusing on cybersecurity and technology governance across the private sector and academia. Currently, I collaborate with the Center for Studies in Free Speech and serve on the Global Council of Roblox, where I engage in discussions on online safety and platform governance. I’m particularly interested in how global Internet governance debates translate into Global South realities.


Ms. Vivienne Kobel
Ms. Vivienne Kobel Youth Ambassador Internet Society, Fellowship (Germany)

I am a digital policy specialist dedicated to human-centric and intersectional feminist approaches to security policy. Until recently, I worked at the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP), where I helped research cybercrime, cybersecurity, and AI. My work is committed to highlighting the human impact of technologies and centering the needs of marginalized communities who are often ignored in policymaking. I authored a study on feminist perspectives on cybercrime law and participated in the negotiations for the new UN Convention against Cybercrime.


Ms. Rilla Sumisra
Ms. Rilla Sumisra Youth Ambassador Internet Society – Fellowship (Indonesia)

I am a policy analyst at the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs of Indonesia. My work focuses on artificial intelligence and data protection to support an inclusive and people-centered digital ecosystem. My background in network and software engineering remains the foundation of how I approach policy challenges. I’ve been active in the Internet governance community for over a decade and view it as a lifelong space for collaboration and shared responsibility.


Ms. Maria Gamboa Acevedo
Ms. Maria Gamboa Acevedo Youth Ambassador Internet Society — Fellowship (Colombia)

I am a Colombian lawyer and data privacy consultant based in the Netherlands. My work focuses on AI governance and responsible technology, helping international organizations build privacy-by-design systems. My expertise lies at the intersection of law and emerging tech, with a particular interest in how digital regulation affects access to justice and health data in underserved communities. This perspective is grounded in my academic training, including an LL.M. in Law and Technology from Tilburg University, and a CIPP/E credential.


Topics
Capacity Building Cultural Diversity Digital Divide Digital Skills Digital Transformation Education Infrastructure
WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C4 logo C4. Capacity building
  • AL C6 logo C6. Enabling environment
  • AL C11 logo C11. International and regional cooperation

This session aligns with WSIS Action Lines C4, C6, and C11. It speaks most directly to C4 (capacity building), as its central aim is equipping women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to participate in Internet governance and digital policy. It connects to C6 (enabling environment) by addressing the structural barriers that keep women underrepresented in decision-making, and by promoting more inclusive and representative governance ecosystems in which their participation can take hold. Finally, it reflects C11 (international and regional cooperation) by convening emerging women leaders from across regions, fostering the cross-regional exchange and collaboration through which inclusive policy capacity is built and sustained.

Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 4 logo Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Goal 9 logo Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

The session links most directly to SDG 5 (gender equality), in particular target 5.5 on women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in decision-making, and to SDG 5.b on using enabling technology to promote women’s empowerment. It also connects to SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), given its focus on inclusive participation in shaping the digital infrastructure and policy that underpin connectivity. Supporting links include SDG 4 (quality education), through its capacity-building and skills focus; and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), through its attention to the underrepresentation of women, particularly in the Global South.

GDC Objectives
  • Objective 1: Close all digital divides and accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals