On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, a debate took place in Vienna, bringing together Slovak and Austrian experts from civil society, academia, and the policy sectors to address critical issues shaping the digital age. The engaging event, co-hosted by GLOBSEC and The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), offered a platform for discussing the intersection of women, technology, and governance, as well as the challenges and opportunities women face in these fields. It also tackled broader topics such as gender equality, digital literacy, and the societal impact of technology. The event aimed to promote collaboration, share insights, and develop recommendations for European and national leadership.
The opening speeches were delivered by Sebastian Schäffer, Managing Director at IDM, and Vladislava Gubalova, Senior Fellow at GLOBSEC, who introduced the CEE Her initiative. The sessions included diverse perspectives from notable experts, such as Dr. Elisabeth Frankus from the Institute for Advanced Studies, Oľga Pietruchová from UNHCR, Veronika Pizano from AjTyvIT, and Julia Pleyer from Women in AI Austria. Moderators Andrea Cox (DigiQ) and Malwina Talik (IDM) guided the discussions on technology and inclusion, and governance in the digital age, respectively.
From digital literacy to AI governance, the conversation covered both challenges and opportunities for women in tech. Speakers highlighted the persistent gender gap, with women holding only 10% of executive positions in the field despite their growing presence in digital entrepreneurship. Structural barriers, stereotypes, and policy gaps continue to slow progress, but panelists emphasized solutions—better education, early exposure to digital skills, and policies that break down these obstacles.
The discussion also turned to women’s underrepresentation in decision-making on AI and digital policies, as well as the rising threat of cyber gender-based violence, particularly against women in leadership roles. Experts called for stronger legal protections, transparent algorithms, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to create lasting change beyond political cycles.
Experts debated the roles of the state and NGOs in driving change, emphasizing that while grassroots initiatives and civil society have played a vital role, systemic change requires long-term, state-led strategies with adequate funding. The event also stressed the importance of ensuring women’s meaningful representation in AI governance and digital policy-making.
The event concluded with a call to action focused on strengthening digital education for women, ensuring inclusive governance, holding governments accountable for gender-sensitive policies, and addressing online violence through legislative actions and platform responsibility. Women need to be involved in shaping digital policies and the development of new technologies to ensure diverse perspectives and outcomes.
