Information and communication technologies (ICT) have transformed the way people communicate and relate with each other. ICTs have provided opportunities for women to express and assert their rights and identities, access important information that may contribute to their empowerment, and the development of the communities they belong in. However, a Read more
In March 2016, the Philippines took global headlines by storm when the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) website was breached and several voters’ databases were leaked online. The breach, popularly referred to as COMELeak, is now known to be one of the biggest government-related breaches in world history as it involved Read more
18 Days of Activism against Gender-based violence In the Philippines, the 18-day campaign to end violence against women is from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 12, International Day against Trafficking. The campaign calls on everyone to take take action to end Read more
ITU and UN Women select outstanding projects to empower women and girls through innovative technologies Geneva, 17 October 2016 ITU and UN Women announced today the fourteen finalists for the 2016 GEM-TECH Awards to advance women’s participation in the ICT sector. This annual award honours outstanding projects and programmes around Read more
Dutertismo Should Address – Not Contribute to – the Climate of Impunity Preventing Rhetoric from Becoming Reality in Respecting Rights Though it is still two weeks before President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is formally proclaimed as the country’s next Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief, his electoral victory has been apparent early on, just Read more
In stark contrast to the passage of its parent Statute, the recent issuance of the Cybercrime Protection Act’s (RA 10175) Implementing Rules and Regulations came about with little to no hostility and controversy involved. The three government agencies charged with crafting its watered-down provisions—the DILG, DOJ, and DOST—met for a Read more
COMMUNICATIONS LANDSCAPE The Philippines has a total population of over 100 million people[1] and was estimated to reach 101.6 million in 2015. The country had a national internet penetration figure of around 40 % in 2014.[2] Overall, 45 million people are active Internet users,[3] while 32 million are active mobile internet users.[4] The country ranks first Read more
The Foundation for Media Alternatives, in partnership with the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau (WLB), and with the support of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), World Wide Web Foundation and Internet Society (ISOC) will be holding a consultation entitled “Real Access for Women: A National Consultation on Gender Read more
I’ve been invited to be part of a panel of reactors in a session on Safe Whistleblowing at the World Forum for Democracy in Strasbourg, France on November 19. Below is the transcript of my 5-minute intervention. My organization the Foundation for Media Alternatives is based in the Philippines, Read more
Introduction Social media[1] serves as the Internet to majority of Filipino online users. Over 80% of the Philippine Internet population uses social media. In Universal McCann’s 2008 Wave 3 study on social media, the Philippines has the highest penetration of social networking among Internet users at 83%, compared with the Read more