EU ambassador backs

later this year, the EU ambassador hoped emaSwati would follow His Majesty’s recent advice to constituencies to vote for women.

“We much hope to see more women in Parliament than before, making their voices count in charting the future of this beautiful country,” she said.

She said the EU action sought to contribute to the following:

Promoting policy and regulatory reform in partner countries, such as Eswatini, thus ensuring that digital transformation aligns with the EU’s human-centric approach, bringing benefits to all, while protecting human rights, both online and offline, and ensuring a safe and secure cyber space, where data are protected in line with EU standards; Improving access of girls and women to affordable, accessible, safe and secure digital connectivity, reaching out to the rural and remote areas;

Promoting digital literacy for girls in education, as well as digital skills for jobs and entrepreneurship while addressing the gender norms and stereotypes that steer women and girls away from technology; Supporting women digital innovators and entrepreneurs across multiple industrial ecosystems to build an inclusive digital economy, for example via public-private partnerships such as the international finance; corporation, with the aim of closing the digital gender gap in big tech companies;

Supporting the provision of public and private services through gender-responsive digital channels, technologies and services (e.g. e-government, digital financial services) that will enhance women and girls’ inclusion and participation in