Only 4 percent of Arab women use the Internet

Only 4 percent of Arab women use the Internet, according to the UN Economic and Social Commission For Western Asia (ECWA).

Moroccan women represent 30pc of this figure, noted the director of the women center in ECWA at a regional meeting held in Beirut. She deplored, on the other hand, that 4% is a weak rate compared to other regions in the world.

Emirati and Lebanese women are at top of Internet users in the Arab states.

Women represent nearly 42pc of Internet users in the world, including 51pc in Canada and 37pc in Italy and Germany, she said.

The director of the center pointed out that Arab states are heading towards a society of new information and communication technologies as the number of Internet users reached 12 millions in 2004, against 9 millions in 2003.

The UN official pleaded for encouraging women integrate in NICT and set up enterprises in this sector.