Prime Minister at Side Event "Threats and Opportunities of Digital Technologies: Women in the Public Eye."
ORANJESTAD – Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes is attending the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) conference at the United Nations in New York, where world leaders focus on what each country has done and is doing to improve the position of girls and women.
On Tuesday, March 10, the Prime Minister attended a CSW69 side event titled “Threats and Opportunities of Digital Technologies: Women in the Public Eye." The Council of Europe and Yuriko Backes, Minister of Defense and Equality of Luxembourg, organized this event.
During this event, the Prime Minister of Aruba shared her experience as a woman in the public eye and discussed the threats and opportunities of digital technologies.
According to the Prime Minister, public life is not only about service but also about resilience. Every day, women in leadership positions face online abuse, disinformation, and control, which profoundly affect them simply because of their gender. It is not only a personal challenge but also a threat to democracy when it forces women into silence.
In Aruba, the use of social media is the highest in the region. According to Diagnostics on the Technology Divide on Aruba (2022) study by Futura, more than 90% of the population is actively engaged with digital platforms. This connectivity offers incredible opportunities for civic participation but also exposes public figures, especially women, to risks such as harassment, disinformation, and online abuse.
We must ensure that digital technology is not a barrier but a bridge—a tool for empowerment, inclusion, and equality. We must bolster legislation and assume accountability to protect women's voices, online and offline. Aruba stands in solidarity with global efforts to combat technology-facilitated violence.
We believe in a digital world where women can lead, express themselves, and respond without fear. Together, we must demand safe platforms, better strategies, and a global commitment to protecting women in leadership. This conversation must continue with a firm and courageous voice.