This report looks at how gender issues were addressed, and how women’s groups participated, in the World Summit on the Information Society.  This study finds that gender issues did gain a place in official WSIS output, but that women were under-represented in WSIS decision-making bodies.

The report has been organized into five parts. The first is an Executive Summary. The second part sets the scene; what is WSIS, who are the main players and what are the main issue-areas for social justice and/or gender advocacy around ICT themes. Part three looks at renderings, as (1) official WSIS output (documentation), (2) input as negotiations and interventions on the ground during drafting processes and sessions, (3) in online contexts in light of the previous two areas. Part four draws conclusions and makes suggestions for further discussion and research. Part Five is comprised of two Appendices - one is an overview of conceptual issues around gender/women within feminist theory as a self-contained field and as it emerges in other fields and the other covers the main methodological parameters of the research underpinning this report.

Report prepared for the Ford Foundation.