The Initiative for Inclusive Security added to Computerworld Honors Collection

The Initiative for Inclusive Security has been inducted into the Computerworld Honors Collection, an online archive of case studies solicited from visionary individuals and organizations that are using information technology to benefit society. Michael Ruettgers, Executive Chairman of EMC Corporation, nominated Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace for this honor. Members of "Waging," an international network of women peace builders, scholars, and policymakers, use the Internet to exchange strategies and ideas and to advocate for the inclusion of women in the peace process. In April 2002, a case study on Waging's use of the Internet as a peace building tool was accepted by the Honors Collection.

Waging member Anna Ignatieva, IT Coordinator for the Union of the Committees of the Soldiers' Mothers of Russia, was featured in the case study and says that the World Wide Web "not only decreased the distances between people, 'abolishing borders between countries,' but it also simplified access to information by people from different social strata." When she was informed about Waging's induction into the Computerworld archive, she remarked, "It is an honour to me."

Elizabeth Mitchell, Waging IT Coordinator, was gratified by Computerworld's recognition of Waging, but believes there is much more to be done. "We've had some wonderful successes with our network-our bi-monthly chats are well-attended, we have an archive of peace building strategies written by and available to our members on the Web site, and our network has linked hundreds of women peace builders and other policy shapers now working together to stabilize conflicts around the world. But there are still barriers-in many cultures women face both technological and social obstacles to using the Internet. We are now working to identify which factors are at play in regions where our members are having difficulty using the Internet, and will be offering training and infrastructure support to bridge this digital divide."

The Inclusive Security case study will be made available to the public through more than 150 libraries, museums, and universities worldwide, and will be a permanent part of the Computerworld Honors Archives On Line. For more information, please go to www.cwheroes.org.

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