Over recent years the role of ICT as a tool for development has attracted the sustained attention of the United Nations. To ensure that the benefits of new technologies, especially ICT, are made available to all a United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was planned. This publication provides a summary of critical gender equality issues related to ICT and development and outlines potential opportuinities for women's economic, social and political empowerment. This publication focuses on the twofold need to address the gender divide and reduce inequalities related to ICT and to identify ways to use ICT proactively and effectively to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.