A/HRC/35/9 30. With the Internet emerging as a critical platform for scientific and cultural flows and exchanges, freedom of access to the Internet and maintaining its open architecture are important for upholding the right to participate in cultural life and to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. 68 The Internet can facilitate women’s access to, and participation in, science and culture, providing opportunities for women to express themselves and to present alternative narratives and meanings and making it easier for them to freely engage with people, ideas and events across cultural and national boundaries. Consequently, lack of access to online spaces by women can affect their right to participate in cultural life on an equal basis, and bridging the digital divide is necessary to fully realize this right, as noted by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights. 69 Rights of women with disabilities 31. Improved access to ICTs can help persons with disabilities to live more autonomously and independently and enable and accelerate their social, economic and political inclusion. It can facilitate access to education, information, independent methods of communication, health services and employment opportunities. 70 However, persons with disabilities, and particularly women with disabilities, are significantly less likely to have access to the Internet and ICTs. 32. Under articles 9 and 21 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, States parties are required to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities can access ICTs and exercise the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and access to information, on an equal basis with others and through all forms of communication of their choice.71 States parties are also to urge providers of information and services through the Internet, including private entities, to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities. The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has stated that the lack of consideration given to gender and/or disability aspects in policies relating to, among other things, information and communications technologies and systems prevents women with disabilities from living independently and participating fully in all areas of life on an equal basis with others. 72 The Committee has further expressed concern that if women with disabilities are subjected to violence, exploitation or abuse, particularly in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies, information and communication helplines and hotlines may not be accessible to them due to their lack of access to ICTs. 73 Rights of the child, particularly girls 33. The Committee on the Rights of the Child has highlighted the importance of digital technology in children’s lives and exhorted States parties to protect and promote the rights of the child in this regard, without distinction between boys and girls. 74 The Committee held a day of general discussion in 2014 on digital media and children’s rights. While enumerating some of the positive opportunities presented by ICTs for children’s empowerment and engagement, participants drew attention to the digital divide, especially for children in marginalized and vulnerable situations, and highlighted that children, particularly girls, faced new forms of human rights abuses enabled by ICTs, including sexual exploitation and the distribution of child sex abuse images. The Committee recommended that States should recognize the importance of access to, and use of, digital media and ICTs for children and their potential to promote all children’s rights and should adopt and effectively implement comprehensive human rights-based laws and policies that incorporate children’s access to digital media and ICTs and ensure the full protection under 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 10 See A/HRC/20/26, para. 36; A/HRC/23/34, para. 39; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, article 15 (1) (a) and (b). See A/HRC/17/38/Add.1, para. 61; see also A/67/287, paras. 31-32. Broadband Commission for Digital Development and others, joint report, The ICT Opportunity for a Disability-Inclusive Development Framework (2013). See also Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, general comment No. 2 (2014) on accessibility. General comment No. 3 (2016) on women and girls with disabilities, para. 48. Ibid., para. 50. General comment No. 20 (2016) on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence.