Digital inclusion
Explanatory note
Digital inclusion implies deploying strategies and tools to ensure that the benefits of digital technologies are accessible to all (UN Women and SEGIB, 2025). From an equality perspective, a key aspect is the design and implementation of measures to address the gender inequalities in resources and capabilities for accessing and using information and communication technologies (ICT) effectively (UN Women, 2022a). A holistic and intersectional approach ensures both physical access and the acquisition of digital skills.
Given the acknowledged gender gaps in this area (UN Women and SEGIB, 2025; SEGIB, OECD and UN Women, 2025), ensuring full digital inclusion for women requires the adoption of policies that recognise and address these inequalities, and that ensure women and men benefit equally from digital opportunities in terms of access, skills development and financial gain.
Legislation: Which are the main legislative sources analysed?
Laws and regulations relating to equal opportunities.
Laws and regulations on science, technology, innovation and AI.
Laws and regulations on digital inclusion and universal access to ICT.
Laws and regulations on telecommunications, ICT and digital transformation.
Sub-areas and criteria: What do we analyse in this area?
| Sub-area | Criteria |
|---|---|
Access |
Existence of regulations ensuring that women have the same digital access as men. |
Training |
Existence of regulations that provide for the development of digital skills among women and/or girls. |
Participation |
Existence of regulations that promote the employment of women within the knowledge economy. |
Provisions: What information is included in the comments?
| Sub-area | Provision |
|---|---|
Access |
State whether digital inclusion is regulated, and whether specific reference is made to gender-based digital inclusion, identifying the laws that govern this aspect. |
Training |
State whether the development of digital skills among the general public is regulated, and whether specific reference is made to women and girls, identifying the laws that govern this aspect. |
Participation |
State whether the promotion of employment in the digital sector is regulated, and whether specific reference is made to women, identifying the laws that govern this aspect. |
Recommendations: What criteria are used for the recommendation?
Access
| Estado | Criterion | Definition | Binding recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Preserve | Where there are regulations to ensure digital access for women. | No further regulatory action is required. No recommendation is therefore made. |
|
Expand | When there are regulations governing digital access for the general public, but there is no specific mention of access for women. | Create or expand regulations that provide for equitable access to digital technologies |
|
Reform | Where existing regulations are identified that need to be amended to ensure digital access for women | Amend the articles that limit digital access for women and girls |
|
Eliminate | Where there are regulations that run counter to digital access | Repeal any regulations that discriminate against women in terms of digital access |
Training
| Estado | Criterion | Definition | Binding recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Preserve | Where there are regulations that provide for the development of digital skills among women and/or girls. | No further regulatory action is required. No recommendation is therefore made. |
|
|
Expand | Where there are regulations on the development of digital skills among the general public, but they do not specifically mention women and girls. | Create or expand regulations that address digital education for women and girls. |
|
|
Reform | Where existing regulations are identified that need to be amended to ensure the equitable development of digital skills across the entire population. | Amend any regulations that limit the development of digital skills among girls and women. |
|
|
Eliminate | Where there are regulations that hinder the training of women in digital skills. | Repeal any regulations that discriminate against women in terms of training in digital skills. |
Participation
| Estado | Criterion | Definition | Binding recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Preserve | Where there are regulations governing the promotion of employment in the knowledge economy sectors, with specific reference to women. | No further regulatory action is required. No recommendation is therefore made. |
|
|
Expand | Where there are regulations governing the promotion of employment in the knowledge economy sectors, but they do not refer specifically to women. | Create or expand regulations that specifically contemplate the employment of women within the knowledge economy. |
|
|
Reform | Where existing regulations are identified that need to be amended to ensure the participation of women in the knowledge economy sectors. | Amend any regulations that restrict the participation of women in the knowledge economy sectors. |
|
|
Eliminate | Where regulations exist that run counter to the promotion of employment in the knowledge economy sectors. | Repeal any regulations that expressly promote discrimination against women in the promotion of employment in the knowledge economy sectors |