Digital equity and access for all
Keywords:
Information and communication technology (ICT), social justice, accessibility, sustainable development, digital equality, digital divide, digital inclusion, and education technologyAbstract
The idea of "digital equity," which emphasizes equitable access to digital tools, internet connectivity, and the skills necessary to engage meaningfully in the digital world, has become a crucial component of social justice in the twenty-first century. Even with the widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), fair access and participation are still restricted by enduring disparities based on socioeconomic status, geography, gender, and disability. By examining the structural, economic, and educational obstacles that sustain the digital divide, this research paper explores the complex nature of digital equity. Additionally, it examines national and international policy frameworks that support universal digital inclusion. The study identifies effective practices for promoting equitable digital ecosystems, especially in developing countries, through a critical analysis of case studies and current literature. The study comes to the conclusion that in order to ensure that technical breakthroughs support inclusive and sustainable human development, governments, the business sector, and civil society must work together to achieve real digital equity.
References
Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI). (2020). The 2020 affordability report. World Wide Web Foundation. https://a4ai.org
DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E. (2001). From the “digital divide” to “digital inequality”: Studying Internet use as penetration increases. Princeton University Center for Arts and Cultural Policy Studies, Working Paper Series, 15.
Fraser, N. (2008). Scales of justice: Reimagining political space in a globalizing world. Columbia University Press.
Gorski, P. C. (2009). Insisting on digital equity: Reframing the dominant discourse on multicultural education and technology. Urban Education, 44(3), 348–364. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085908318712
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2022). Connect 2030 agenda for global telecommunication and ICT development. https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/connect-2030.aspx
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2021). Partner2Connect Digital Coalition. https://www.itu.int/partner2connect
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Engineering Science & Humanities

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


