News
Digital security training for WHRDs in Istanbul
From 19 to 22 March 2013 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) met in Istanbul for a Training of Trainers workshop on digital security. Participants were selected by the WHRD International Coalition. With increasing online threats to the freedom of expression and association and because they are women, WHRDs face many unique threats online that can hinder their activism.
Video4change network, EngageMedia release new resources for activists
Over the past few months, EngageMedia as part of the video4change network has been developing four guides to support the work of video activists. The materials range from video security to using Android video apps. One outstanding example is “A guide on open source video editing” available here. Click for all four.
Agreed conclusions in CSW 57th include violence against women and ICT
The 57th Commission on the Status of Women took place from 4 to 15 March 2013 at United Nations Headquarters under the theme “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.” Setting a milestone for internet and women’s rights, this year’s conclusions include a paragraph on violence against women related to information and communication technologies.
APC to attend event on Open Development in LAC region
APC’s Valeria Betancourt is undertaking research for the IDRC initiative “25 years of the Information Society in Latin America and the Caribbean.” As part of the research, APC will attend an event on “Open Development: Exploring the future of the information society,” in early April 2013. The ongoing project focuses on the emerging concept of open development in LAC.
Training Cambodian youth to promote gender equality through ICTs
Last month, Cambodia-based APC member Open Institute organised a training for students from several local academic institutions in Khmer, covering a wide range of tools like social networking for citizen journalists and FLOSS, or free and open source software. The training’s focus was to build capacity in using ICTs to promote gender equality.
On the WSIS+10: Access and exclusion in review
From 25 – 27 February 2013, delegates from civil society, government, industry and the technical community met at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris for the first WSIS+10 Review meeting to discuss action “Towards Knowledge Societies for Peace and Sustainable Development.”
Internet Rights in Mexico and Nigeria: APC members, partners make recommendations in UPR processes
In partnership with members and networks, APC is working to protect and promote human rights online, engaging governments and other relevant stakeholders through a variety of United Nations processes including participating in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Now in Spanish: Digital security first-aid kit for human rights defenders
APC’s Connect Your Rights! campaign just released a long-awaited Spanish version of its “Digital security first-aid kit for human rights defenders.” Now a completely bilingual resource for human rights defenders, the interactive website publication is available in Spanish at http://derechos.apc.org/infoseguridad.
Bytes for All receives Avon Global Communications Award for local Take Back the Tech! campaign
The Take Back the Tech! local campaign developed by APC member Bytes for All, Pakistan won the “innovative campaign award” from the Avon Foundation. B4A says they will continue to work on strengthening women’s use of technology to raise awareness and combat violence against women in Pakistan.
An EROTICS call: Survey on internet regulation and sexual rights
Are you member of a non-governmental or a community-based organisation? Are you an academic or a researcher? Do you work within networks or coalitions? Are you an independent blogger? If you are a sexuality rights activist and you use the internet in your work, this call is for you.
You are every women: A video on technology-related violence against women
This video was developed by Bytes for All Pakistan, a country partner in the Association for Progressive Communication’s project “End violence: Women’s rights and safety online.” “Don´t cover the crimes of your harassers and report them to bring a change” is the key message of this outstanding video.
“What is your price for the night?” – From ‘sexual strangers’ to ‘sexual citizens’ using ICTs
#EROTICSIndia was organised in Delhi recently by the Internet Democracy Project with APC and Point of View from Mumbai. During the many outstanding sessions developed during the encounter, it was clear that sexual and gender minorities are using the internet to advocate for sexual citizenship.
Using open spectrum in Africa to improve access with wireless broadband
At an event hosted by APC, WAPA and Google Africa in October 2011, government officials, regulators, and industry leaders gathered to discuss the benefits of TV white spaces (TVWS). In a recent piece on this emerging issue, “TV’s white spaces connecting rural Africa” BBC News highlights outcomes from the spectrum workshop and potential unprecedented impacts on access.
On International Sex Worker Rights Day, sign our petition to the UN
This Sunday, 3 March 2012, is International Sex Worker Rights Day. As part of an ongoing campaign, APC’s projects Internet Rights are Human Rights and Take Back the Tech! are circulating a petition to protect sex workers’ rights that we will send to the UN this month. Sign it today!
APC at the Commission on the Status of Women in New York
The fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013 under the theme “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls.” The APC Women’s Rights Programme has a full agenda at the event as part of its advocacy efforts supporting women’s and internet rights.
E-waste in Latin America: The dark side of ICTs?
While the benefits of the widespread use and applications of ICTs are many, there are also negative impacts, such as those associated with the growth in the amount of e-waste that call for the need to counter effects on environmental pollution and public health.
EROTICS India: Networking on regulation of sexuality and the internet
APC, in partnership with Point of View and the Internet Democracy Project, is conducting a workshop in Delhi, India, from 25 – 28 February 2013. More than 20 sexual and internet rights organisations are discussing ways to resist content regulation and increasing their knowledge of online security and privacy.
Baku in APC’s rear-view mirror
The Internet Governance Forum in Baku (6-9 November 2012) was a space in which different interests collided. APC revisits the event by releasing “IGF 2012: The good, the bad and the ugly.“ Here is a snapshot.
APC signs on with civil society to demand inclusion at the WTPF
As preparations are under way for the Fifth World Telecommunication/ICT Policy Forum (WTPF) in May 2013, civil society finds itself facing familiar barriers to participation. In an open letter to Secretary General Toure, APC along with other organisations expresses the urgency for government, the private sector and civil society to dialogue together. Read the letter
Enhanced Cooperation at the WSIS+10 review event
At the first WSIS+10 review event in Paris, France from February 25 – 27, 2013, APC is organising an event on Enhanced Cooperation as a follow-up to its pre-event at the 2012 IGF “Enhanced Cooperation: from deadlock to dialogue” and will use the opportunity of the WSIS+10 review to bring together experts in a follow-up workshop, “Reflections on what needs to be done.”
