Davos Dialogues: Vodafone and UN Women Tackle AI, Digital Gender Divide, and Online Violence at Davos

Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2025 
At the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, HeForShe Champion Vodafone joined UN Women to highlight the urgent need for digital inclusivity and safety for women and girls. The discussion, led by Serpil Timuray, CEO of Vodafone Investments, and Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women, focused on the dual impact of artificial intelligence (AI), the persistent digital gender gap, and the rising threat of online gender-based violence. 

Marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the conversation reflected on progress made toward gender equality while emphasizing the urgent need for acceleration. Despite advancements, at the current rate, it will take 134 years to achieve full gender parity.  
 

Bridging the Digital Gender Gap 
The digital divide remains a significant barrier to gender equality. Women are 14% less likely than men to own a basic mobile phone, limiting their access to essential digital services and economic opportunities. 

"Digital technologies can be an excellent enabler of gender equality, but they can also inhibit it if they are not designed inclusively." - Serpil Timuray, CEO of Vodafone Investments  

Vodafone is actively addressing this gap by providing affordable devices and services tailored to women's needs, ensuring higher adoption rates. 

The Rise of Online Gender-Based Violence 
With increased digital access comes another urgent challenge: online safety. Madi highlighted alarming data showing that in 2023, a woman or girl was killed by an intimate partner or family member every 10 minutes. Additionally, young girls aged 14 to 16 are among the most targeted for online violence.  

Both Vodafone and UN Women reinforced that gender equality must remain a strategic business priority, not just a philanthropic initiative. Vodafone’s commitment to sharing best practices and fostering public-private collaborations, including its role in the Change the Face Alliance, which promotes diverse representation in tech. 

Looking ahead, Madi called for multi-stakeholder engagement, including governments, private sector players, and civil society, to drive policy and investment in gender-responsive digital transformation. 

"The role of youth gives me hope. A strong youth movement will bring the change we need," she concluded.” - Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women 

As Vodafone and UN Women continue their partnership, the focus remains on scaling impact through innovation, collaboration, and policy reform, ensuring that the digital future is inclusive and safe for all.