One of the most efficient ways to promote peace and jump-start flagging economies is to empower girls and invest in their education．Today，girls' lack of access to basic education is compounded when it comes to the use of digital technology，leaving them far behind boys．And because the world is ever more digital，those who lack basic internet skills will find it increasingly more difficult to participate in the formal economy，to obtain a quality education，to access health care，information and psychosocial support，to have their voices heard．
    Since 2013 the global gender gap in male and female access to the Internet has actually increased from 11 to 12 percent．Worse yet，women and girls living in the poorest countries are 31 percent less likely than men and boys to have access to the Internet．In developing countries，some 200 million fewer women than men own a mobile phone，the most common means of Internet access there．This digital divide is increasing，and should it continue at the present pace，it is projected that over 75 percent of women and girls will lack internet access and digital skills．
    There are many causes for the digital gender gap．They include girls' exclusion from basic education writ large，from specific technology education and design，high costs of both devices and internet access，scarcity of content relevant for women and girls，and socio-cultural biases and discrimination，such as barriers to women speaking freely and privately both online and offline．Indeed，one of the most insidious reasons why girls may be discouraged from learning how to access and use digital technology is also a groundless one：that girls are simply not adept at using technology．
    The United Nations has affirmed that human rights online are human rights offline．These stereotypes reinforce harmful norms that keep women and girls from enjoying their human rights．
    According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development，an independent，non-profit and non-governmental research organization，the gender digital divide is a major roadblock to women's economic empowerment and participation in the economy．Without a major increase of policy effort and investment，most of the benefits of technological change will be enjoyed only by men，worsening gender inequality．
    In the words of USAID Senior Gender Coordinator Michelle Bekkering，a girl's future should be defined not by her sex，but by her commitment to hard work and ability to access the resources she needs to succeed．

Girls are left far behind boys in terms of digital technology
Present situation	? Lacking basic internet skills make girls less likely to be （1） involved involved in the economic activities，to get （2） well-educated/educated well-educated/educated ，to access health care，information and psychosocial support，and to voice their opinions． ? The gender gap has increased by 1% since 2013 （3） globally/worldwide globally/worldwide and in the poorest countries，the （4） chances/possibilities chances/possibilities of females accessing the Internet are lowered by 31%． ? In developing countries，fewer women own the mobile phone and the great （5） divide/gap divide/gap can not be bridged if it should continue at the present pace．
Causes and （6） consequences/results/outcomes/effects consequences/results/outcomes/effects	? Girls are （7） excluded excluded from some different forms of education and both devices and Internet access are expensive for girls． ? There's a lack of proper content and biases and discrimination still exist． ? Benefits brought by technological changes are mostly enjoyed by men，making gender inequality （8） more more of a problem．
Opinions and solutions	? Empowered and offered a quality education，girls will make significant （9） contributions contributions to peace and the economic recovery． ? What （10） defines/shapes/decides/determines defines/shapes/decides/determines a girl's future is her devotion，hard work and ability rather than her sex． ? Women and girls are supposed to enjoy more human rights both online and offline．