ABSTRACT
The human development approach focuses on improving the lives people lead rather than assuming that economic growth will lead, automatically, to greater opportunities for all. Human development and human security are closely linked as both are focused on people. The difference between them is that while human security focuses on identifying and addressing threats and risks, human development involves understanding the threats, toward finding and implementing preventive measures. Women face multiple barriers to economic opportunity and empowerment, including legal constraints, difficulties in setting up businesses and limited access to finance and capital. The 2012 World Development Report produced by the World Bank focused specifically on gender equality and development. Information and communication technology (ICT) is an important development tool in many countries. Barriers to women using ICT fall into multiple categories: cultural, technical, affordability, coverage and literacy. In conservative societies IT use can be associated with promiscuity, as a way for women to secretly and inappropriately interact with men.
