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Tag ‘European Parliament’

Speaking up for media freedom

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Jerzy Buzek & I at the Speak Up! Conference

Media freedom and freedom of expression have been big topics in 2011 – just look at what the heroes of North Africa and the Mediterranean have been prepared to do to win or defend these rights. Travelling back from the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning, it occurred to me that I haven’t written about these issues on my blog. Let me correct that today – because media freedom is high on the EU agenda. We support this in law, through debate and through research. We support it online and offline. So I want you to know we will not waver in that support, and in fact I’ve just finished another important discussion about it. Read the full entry

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Putting “girl power” into technology

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

How do we get the European workforce skilled to take part in the future digital economy? How do we ensure that no-one is shut out from these immense economic opportunities?

That’s a complicated question. But for me, we should for starters ensure that we’re not excluding 50% of the population, and that girls and women do not feel the world of ICT careers is closed off to them.

That’s why I invited an impressive and wide-ranging group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and other experts, to discuss what can be done to promote ICT careers to women. I don’t want to reduce the whole issue to stereotypes. But I do know that the current situation is extremely unbalanced, with girls woefully underrepresented, in both the ICT workforce and the fields of study which feed into it.

I want to get “girl power” into ICT and technology – and by “girls” I don’t just mean the young, but also the young at heart! And I want to avoid a situation where we neglect half of the population and then can’t find the ICT workers we need 10 years from now. Read the full entry

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Every woman digital – plugging the ICT skills gap

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Me brainstorming with dynamic and committed MEPs: (from my right) Romana Jordan Cizelj, the hand of Marietje Schaake, Edit Herczog, Arlene McCarthy and Doris Pack. Plus senior Commission official Linda Corugedo Steneberg. Thanks to all of them!

I’ve blogged before about getting Every Woman Digital. I continue to find it troubling that women are under-represented in the ICT sector at every level, and particularly in decision-making positions. And the situation doesn’t seem to be getting better.

I’m worried when people assume that ICT careers wouldn’t offer exciting opportunities for women. But if women are going into the sector and not being made to feel welcome, well, that worries me even more. Read the full entry

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