United Nations Women Edit-a-thon is a global initiative organised by the Wikipedia community, supported by United Nations Women and joined by UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth. The main event was held in United Nations Headquarters in New York City on 12 August 2016 and was joined by many cities around the world as well virtual Edit-a-Thons.
According to Wikipedia administrators, knowledge is both a resource and an investment and, like all other forms of wealth, it is often differentially distributed throughout a social system. Gender knowledge gaps and biases reinforce the harmful stereotypes and practices, and often misrepresent women and girls, and undercut or undervalue their contributions locally and globally.
“As Wikipedia compiles what represents close to the sum of all human knowledge,” Wikipedia says, “women should be recognised as part of that sum. Empower Women by UN Women, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, the UN Inter-agency Network on Youth Development’s Working Group on Youth and Gender Equality, and a group of volunteer champions are all working to enhance and increase the content on Wikipedia related to women and gender equality to raise awareness, close the gender knowledge gap, and start changing and editing the future.
“If you believe in the notion of online collaboration for the greater good and gender equality and have been impacted by an inspiring woman in your lifetime, join our campaign and make them more visible to inspire millions. Help us celebrate HerStory edit-a-thons to close the gender knowledge gap on International youth Day on 12 August.”
At the UN Headquarters in New York, the HerStory edit-a-thon convened 600 participants to edit and write for Wikipedia. The day-long event included an opening, a Wikipedia 101 brief tutorial, and a full day of writing and editing. It also featured speakers from Wikipedia partners.
Watani International
21 August 2016