By Azadeh Alimadadi

Researcher in Sustainable Development and Market-Driven Innovations

In a world where humanity dreams of digital immortality, as quoted by Dr. Kurzweil, technological and social advancements have delineated new horizons for human life. These developments promise a future where innovation and technology play pivotal roles. However, do these changes and opportunities benefit everyone equitably?

Women, constituting half of the world’s population and a driving force for sustainable development, continue to face challenges rooted in social, cultural, and economic structures. These challenges, ranging from gender discrimination to economic and social constraints, not only impact their quality of life but also limit their role in sustainable development. In a world where sustainability is seen as a solution to balancing present needs with preserving resources for the future, women’s participation in social, economic, and environmental dimensions is indispensable. Addressing these challenges requires deliberate efforts toward empowering women, raising public awareness of their rights, and expanding equal opportunities.

Modern technologies and digital innovations serve as powerful tools to facilitate this process. From online education to communication platforms, these technologies enable women to play more active roles in social, economic, and environmental decision-making. The Kurdistan Region exemplifies how women’s potential can be harnessed for sustainable development. Yet, challenges remain, necessitating supportive policies, cultural attitude shifts, and increased public awareness.

Dr. Ari Rafiq, Deputy Director-General of Combating Violence Against Women and Families at the Ministry of Interior, states: “Our organization’s activities have primarily focused on addressing gender inequalities in Iraqi laws and empowering women for active societal participation. Much of this effort has been directed toward changing collective mindsets and countering harmful social behaviors, such as violence against women and outdated marriage practices rooted in century-old traditions in Kurdistan. Unfortunately, prioritization of issues has hindered addressing all aspects of sustainability, such as environmental and economic dimensions. Additionally, social media platforms are mainly used for disseminating information about government actions.”

Dr. Rafiq further explains: “Initiatives in these areas have often been individual and sporadic, with no clear structure for developing platforms or implementing systematic and regular programs. Meanwhile, related organizations, social activists, and NGOs play a significant role in raising awareness and reducing social biases against women, but efforts related to environmental and economic issues remain limited and uncoordinated.”

Women, leveraging their indigenous knowledge and managerial capabilities, play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable development through their participation in social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This role, harmonizing traditional values with modern technologies, lays the foundation for transformative progress towards sustainability. Across the globe, women have proven to be central pillars of sustainability through their relentless efforts. Their impact is evident not only within the household but also on broader social, economic, and environmental fronts. From advanced urban communities to remote rural areas, women have demonstrated how they can drive positive change for the benefit of future generations.

However, breaking the glass ceiling that often limits their potential requires strengthened awareness initiatives, effective supportive policies, and targeted programs. Modern technologies and digital tools can serve as powerful enablers in realizing these goals. By enhancing women’s awareness of their rights and responsibilities and creating supportive frameworks, the glass ceiling that hinders their progress can be shattered, ensuring their broader participation in all facets of sustainable development.

Silent but Indispensable Participation in Sustainability

Sustainability, a fundamental concept in global development, refers to creating a balance between meeting current needs and preserving resources and values for future generations. This vision is built on three core dimensions: social, economic, and environmental, aiming to achieve a development that not only addresses present demands but also ensures equal opportunities for future generations. In this context, the role of women has consistently been regarded as a pivotal factor.

Chapter 24 of Agenda 21, titled “Global Action for Women Towards Sustainable and Equitable Development,” adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, identifies women as one of the key groups essential for achieving sustainable development. Empowering women and ensuring their active participation in environmental, social, and economic decision-making were outlined as primary objectives of the summit. Principle 20 of the Rio Declaration further asserts: “Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.” Previously, UNEP had emphasized the linkages between women’s empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development at the 1985 Third World Conference on Women in Nairobi, presenting it as a critical intergovernmental agenda.

This recognition has led to actionable programs in countries committed to the framework, where empowering women is now a key priority in national policymaking. Following the Rio Earth Summit, numerous global conferences addressed women and sustainable development, including the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), and Rio+20 in 2012. These conferences expanded the scope to include issues like poverty, education, health, reproductive rights, climate change, and women’s participation in global programs alongside gender equality and environmental policies.

Countries like Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and New Zealand have made significant strides toward gender equality and women’s involvement in sustainable development since the Rio Earth Summit. Sweden, for instance, has implemented progressive gender equality policies ensuring women’s active participation in various sectors. Rwanda, with women holding over 60% of parliamentary seats, exemplifies the strengthening of women’s roles in political decision-making. Saudi Arabia has also introduced legal reforms to facilitate women’s entry into the workforce and improve access to financial and educational resources.

Economically, women have catalyzed significant changes by entering labor markets and establishing small and medium-sized enterprises. Globally, organizations like Women’s World Banking and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have supported women entrepreneurs through specialized training, financial services, webinars, and networking opportunities. These organizations leverage modern technologies and provide online training through digital platforms and financial applications, fostering women’s economic growth and their participation in global markets. For instance, ITC’s SheTrades.com platform equips women entrepreneurs with digital tools, online training, networking opportunities, and access to capital, enabling them to expand their businesses internationally.

Women also play a vital role in environmental preservation and resource optimization. In communities where natural resource conservation has become imperative, women combine indigenous knowledge with modern technologies to lead environmental projects. For example, Solar Sister in Africa empowers rural women to become entrepreneurs in renewable energy, contributing to sustainable development and improved environmental conditions.

Women around the world, through movements and organizations like the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, the Chipko Movement in India, and the Women’s Environmental Network in Europe, actively participate in environmental conservation and sustainability efforts, often utilizing modern tools like digital education and ICT. These examples illustrate how innovative technologies can amplify women’s roles in sustainability and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

In the Kurdistan Region, women’s societal presence has been accompanied by positive changes, yet broader support across social, economic, and environmental domains remains crucial. In the social dimension, women have established their position through education and cultural engagement. With the establishment of non-profit organizations and women’s rights advocacy organizations, awareness of women’s social and legal rights has increased. Moreover, the region’s electoral law, reserving 30% of parliamentary seats for women, reflects a commitment to gender equality and increased political participation. Another prominent example is the educational programs related to women’s rights, which are implemented by institutions such as the High Council of Women Affairs in Erbil, focusing on family issues, civil rights, educational and employment opportunities, and community involvement.

In the economic dimension, women in the Kurdistan Region have significantly contributed to household livelihoods and the local economy by establishing small and medium-sized enterprises. Local exhibitions that provide entrepreneurial women with opportunities to showcase handcrafted and locally-produced goods serve as examples of these efforts. In the environmental dimension, though to a lesser extent, women in Kurdistan have participated in projects focused on conserving environment and natural resources, recycling and reducing energy consumption.

Ms. Vian Hussain Nader, Project Manager in Emma Organization for Human Development, states, “In the Kurdistan Region, women play a significant role in agriculture, water resource management, and household maintenance. However, these roles have been deeply affected by climate change.” She highlights that traditional gender norms and limited representation in political and decision-making processes often hinder women’s participation in climate resilience and adaptation efforts. As a result, policies are often designed without a gender-sensitive perspective, overlooking the unique needs and contributions of women in climate-related initiatives.

Ms. Vian emphasizes that modern technologies, including social media platforms and educational applications, can play a pivotal role in bridging these gaps. According to her, in the Kurdistan Region, social media and specialized mobile applications are increasingly being used to raise awareness among women about their roles in various dimensions, facilitate discussions, foster social participation, support visual campaigns, share stories, and promote women’s rights. These tools are also utilized to host webinars and interviews on women-related topics. However, some of them are not systematic and are created by individuals or informal groups.

She also mentions the Safe You application as an example, which was developed in collaboration with DECVAW and UNFPA. This app provides tools to educate women about their rights and personal safety.

Ms. Vian points out that these technologies help bridge barriers of illiteracy and geographical distance, offering new opportunities for women’s participation. However, challenges such as limited internet access in remote areas, digital illiteracy, and cultural resistance remain significant. She advocates for the creation of localized platforms tailored to rural and underserved women’s needs, incorporating features like digital education, financial literacy, and legal and career counseling. According to her, these platforms should be systematically managed through collaborations between NGOs and the government to enhance women’s participation in sustainable development and climate adaptation initiatives.

These efforts, though localized and scattered, underscore the potential of Kurdistan’s women to contribute to regional sustainable development, strengthening social, economic, and environmental infrastructures. Enhancing access to digital technologies and garnering international support to raise awareness among women can further empower them, paving the way for progress aligned with global development standards.

Women, in every role they undertake—within the home, the community, or internationally—are the backbone of true sustainability.

From nurturing informed generations to managing natural resources and participating in economic activities, they are indispensable pillars of resilient communities. Long-term investments in education, modern technologies, and digital tools can provide a foundation for women to engage more effectively in all dimensions of sustainability. Such initiatives not only impact women’s futures but also shape the future of entire societies.

Ms. Vian suggests that establishing a platform, social network, or application aimed at raising women’s awareness and enhancing their roles requires a clear vision, effective design, and strategic partnerships. This platform could be managed by experienced NGOs specializing in advocacy and social engagement, in collaboration with government institutions to ensure alignment with national policies and long-term sustainability.

Key features of this platform could include educational programs on health, women’s rights, leadership, financial literacy, and digital skills; multimedia campaigns to combat gender-based violence and promote equality; discussion forums and networking opportunities for career development and family support; and a repository of resources such as laws, policies, and job opportunities. Interactive tools like hotlines, chatbots, and surveys can further enhance user engagement. Additionally, crowdfunding campaigns and job boards can help sustain the platform financially.

To implement this initiative effectively, it is crucial to ensure accessibility for women in underserved areas by supporting multiple languages and low-bandwidth modes, safeguarding user data privacy, and fostering collaboration among women’s rights activists, government agencies, and private sector partners. Analytical tools can also be employed to monitor progress and refine strategies continuously. These efforts can create new opportunities for women’s active participation in sustainable development.