For government

Women and Girls in Rural, Remote, and Indigenous (RRI) communities face added barriers to meaningful connectivity due to their rurality.

Recommendation 6: Revise policies relating to connectivity and expansion goals in order to recognize gender-based and intersectional elements of digital divides, as well as how these relate to violence and anti-violence work. Shift work related to connectivity from a conversation that focuses mainly on economic inclusion and opportunities to one where gender equality and safety is also central.

For BCSTH, governments, schools, NGOs, anti-violence organizations

Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.

Recommendation 13: Incorporate information about online misogyny into technology literacy resources for youth to account for unsafe online spaces and support them in safely navigating the internet.

For BCSTH, antiviolence organizations, NGOs

Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.

Recommendation 14: Develop online dating safety resources for RRI women as components of tech literacy for both service users and providers, in ways easily accessible to tech literacy “beginners” and adult women.

For private sector, government, NGOs, BCSTH

Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.

Recommendation 15: Policy work moving forward should prioritize connectivity as a safety necessity for anti-violence work and emergency preparedness. This involves actions such as:

• Ensuring that emergency alerts can reach all Canadians, especially those in areas that are increasingly impacted by climate change-aggravated disasters (infrastructure issues)
• Organizing collaborative emergency planning with participation from a variety of sectors including, for instance, the private sector – particularly companies with access to connectivity technology and infrastructure – and anti-violence organizations. As pointed out by the report, this planning should be informed by and reflect Indigenous land knowledge and practices.
• Researching and investing in sustainable and ecologically wise connectivity infrastructure that is resilient to climate change to ensure the maximum possible protection of community members’ wellbeing, especially those most vulnerable to post-crisis violence.
• Researching and developing a plan for women who need to call emergency services for experiences of violence but have no phone or internet as a result of the disaster

For BCSTH, anti-violence organizations, government

Unique contexts specific to RRI communities result in a different significance of meaningful connectivity, as well as distinct challenges, for women in these communities.

Recommendation 16: Incorporate disaster and emergency planning in anti-violence programs’ policies.