[kictanet] Invitation to a Cybercrime against women meeting on 18th May 2010 University of Nairobi, Chiromo Campus.

[alice at apc.org]

Dear colleague

Invitation to a Cybercrime against women meeting on 18th May 2010
University of Nairobi, Chiromo Campus.


The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is pleased to invite you to a
lunch meeting to be held on 18th May from 12.00 to 14.30 at the University
of Nairobi, Chiromo Campus to share and explore issues of cybercrime
against women.

Cybercrime against the person and in   this case the woman is real and is
rising. Unfortunately, all the efforts to understand the vice focus on the
cyber crime against property and against governments. The only other
notable effort against the person is against the child.

 While cyberspace  have provided secure tools and spaces where women can
enjoy their freedom of expression, information and privacy of
communication, the same benefits of anonymity and privacy also extend to
those who employ ICTs for criminal activities and use the internet to
commit violence against women.  The use of mobile phones and internet to
stalk, abuse, traffic, intimidate and humiliate women is palpable in
developing countries including Kenya. The lack of specific
cybercrime/cyber security legislation makes it even more difficult to
punish those who use ICTs tools to conduct violence against women. Kenya
Communications (Amendment) Act 2009 focused on the cybercrime against
property and not the person. Kenya is not alone but that is not a
consolation.  With increased use of internet in Kenya with the onset of
broadband, it is necessary to create the necessary policy / regulatory
and the operational framework to reign in the vice.

KICTANET has launched a study   on the vice whose research questions are:

1.	What is the prevalence of cybercrime against women in terms of degree,
level, quantity, and distribution?
2.	How does cyber crime affect women differently? (Demonstrate spiral
effect and determine if women are already intimidated by cyber space e.g.
mailing lists, how active do women participate in debates? Is the design
of the cyber already woman unfriendly?)
3.	What are the current measures and gaps (technological, legal, social,
and psychological) to address cyber crime against women (local, regional,
and global)? Map the efforts (lessons of best practice).
4.	What mechanisms are appropriate for addressing cyber crime against women?

Programme
Venue: 		University of Nairobi, Chiromo Campus Arziki restaurant
Date: 		May 18th, 2010
1200-1215: 	Registration
1215-1230 	Welcome and introductions
		Lunch served
1230- 1400: 	presentation of real life cyber crime case
		Short presentation on cyber crime
                   	Discussions
1400 - 1410 	Way forward