News: All
Nancy Hafkin: 30 years of building Africa's networks
After more than 30 years of working to promote information and communications technology in Africa, Nancy Hafkin was inducted into the Internet Wall of Fame. In an interview with APCNews, she shares the history of her work and that of communications technology in Africa, her interest in Africa, obstacles and achievements.
Going online is the same as going out to a rally
Thirty people from six continents met at the APC “Dialogue on digital security and women’s human rights defenders” to discuss regional and global trends on digital security, freedom of expression and freedom of association, and their impact on women’s human rights defenders. Katerina Fialova and Sonia Randhawa interviewed two of the participants.
Open spectrum for development launches website
APC’s initiative “Open Spectrum for Development,” which analyses spectrum regulation in Africa, Asia and Latin America, has its own website to feature materials produced from the project.
20 years later: APC to push for a more sustainable use of ICTs in Rio
As international organisations, civil society, governments and the private sector gather in Rio for the UN convention on sustainable development and the People’s summit, APC staff and members, too, will be live tweeting and reporting on the event, holding workshops and speaking on panels.
Bytes for All calls for civil society participation in drafting cyber crime legislation in Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is working to revive and restructure the cyber crime law, which lapsed in 2009. Stakeholders who are being consulted are corporations such as telecom operators, ISPs, and governmental organisations. However, no representative civil society organisation holds an opinion even though it is a globally accepted norm that governments use a multi-stakeholder process to ensure active participation by civil society.
Making government accountable to citizens in Uganda and the region
Lillian Nalwoga from the Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) coordinated research on open governance data in Uganda as part of APC’s Action Research Network project. “Citizens, academia, the private sector and civil society need to be more involved in the implementation of open governance,” says Nalwoga in an interview with APCNews.
Malaysia: Bad laws won’t stop cyber crime
The recent amendments to the Malaysian Evidence Act, passed without debate at Parliament on May 19 2012, clearly signal the government’s intention to increase censorship on the internet.
Developing countries utilise cost-effective option to bridge access gap
APCNews interviewed Ermanno Pietrosemoli from EsLaRed and Russel Southwood from Balancing Act on some of the issues covered during a workshop organised by APC at the recent WSIS Forum in Geneva. Both agreed that workshops on TV white spaces sensitises stakeholders to deal with spectrum allocation from an important perspective that supersedes commercial interests.
APC statement on the review of Ecuador's Human Rights record
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Centro Internacional de Estudios Superiores de Comunicación para América Latina (CIESPAL) and Radialistas Apasionadas y Apasionados welcome the openness of the government of Ecuador towards exploring the implications of human rights online.
Freedom of expression and the Internet: How to reconcile practice and principles?
Watch the full (and very dynamic) discussion that took place in Geneva on May 17. Five seasoned human rights defenders faced off on the specific right to freedom of expression and how it relates to the internet. How to reconcile practice and principles when it comes to freedom of expression on the net? Anyone?
Must read: The internet, human rights and the UPR
This must-read Q&A is a great resource on how the internet and human rights are related. This short catch-all article summarises the “why” behind APC’s efforts to have the internet recognised as a very powerful enabler of human rights. It’s the one article you should read to dig into what’s happening at the UN in Geneva this week.
Federal Minister for IT Slaps Nationwide Twitter Ban on Pakistani Citizens
On Sunday, 20 May 2012, APC member Bytes for All (B4A) reported that “once again, Government of Pakistan has managed to block yet another social networking website Twitter.” Service to the website was restored the same day, yet civil society must “reject this oppressive slap on citizens basic human right to democracy, freedom of expression and access to information.”
Feminist talks on internet, economic justice and women's rights at AWID Forum
This GenderIT.org edition reflects on the feminist politics and practices of technology within the broader debates around economic justice and women’s rights at the 12th AWID Forum. These talks make a strong contribution to internet governance: if women do not sit at the discussion table, they will be on the menu.
Bargain basement shopping in the information society
An APC session at the AWID Forum 2012 titled “Feminist Economics Toolbox sessions,” brought together speakers to spark debate and reflection on the feminist economic issues and the audience vibrated with insights and was eager to deepen discussion on the commodification of knowledge.
Taking street harassment off the streets and off the map!
APC reflects on a session at AWID Forum 2012 titled, “Bringing Gender to the Streets: Young Women Amidst the Arab Uprisings.” The use of internet technology like mapping to fight violence against women is an integral part of APC’s Take Back the Tech! campaign.
Enhancing cooperation among stakeholders in internet governance
APC calls for the establishment of an Internet Governance Forum working group to develop a multi-stakeholder declaration on enhanced cooperation.
New guide for policy makers on ICTs and climate change
The University of Manchester has released a new guide on ICTs and climate change in developing countries that aims to help policy makers and climate change officers in their decision-making process. It outlines issues, priorities, benefits, risks, and more.
"Responsible science must guide action, not dogmatism," says researcher
The LAC region faces many water-related issues – from drought and flooding to hurricanes and landslides. A new book commissioned by APC and the IRDC examines how ICTs can help alleviate climate and weather-related stress in these areas. APC talks to LAC regional author, Gilles Cliche, about his findings.
Connect Your Rights! - The video
“Connect Your Rights!” is the take-home message from this short video. Developed for the APC-campaign Connect Your Rights! Internet Rights are Human Rights, the video provides you with a quick and clear understanding of why human rights on the internet matter. Watch now.
GISWatch has won the ITU-awarded WSIS project prize 2012
The Association for Progressive Communications, in close cooperation with APC members, networks and civil society groups, is pleased to accept the WSIS Project Prize from the International Telecommunications Union for the achievements of the GISWatch project in “the role of public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for development.”
