News
APC trains participants in internet rights policy at the Hivos workshop “IG in the MENA Region”
At a workshop on internet governance in the MENA region, held from 16 to 19 March 2013 in Tunis, APC presented “IG and Policy: Anchoring and Safeguarding internet Openness in the Middle East and North Africa,” a workshop on civil society engagement in IG and public policy.
UN member states must hold Azerbaijan to account for deteriorating human rights situation
The International Partnership Group on Azerbaijan, of which APC is a member organisation, urges the UN to hold Azerbaijan to account during its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for its failure to protect basic human rights.
CIVICUS publishes state of civil society report 2013
CIVICUS just launched its State of Civil Society report for 2013, “Creating an enabling environment for civil society.” APC contributed a section of the report on the state of the internet from a civil society perspective.
Bytes for All challenges censorship and surveillance in Pakistani court
To publicly challenge increasing censorship, surveillance and internet filtering in Pakistan, APC member Bytes for All, and Media Legal Defense Imitative lodged a petition in the Lahore High Court in January 2013 claiming that the bans imposed on various websites were in blatant violation of civil and political rights.
Internet and corruption: GISWatch 2012 print edition now available
Two of the most recent print editions of Global Information Society Watch are now available for on-demand ordering. Activists, academics and policy makers are encouraged to order copies of “Internet rights and democratisation” and “The internet and corruption” through a new, online service.
The Guardian hosts live debate Thursday 11 April on ICTs and social justice
This Thursday at 12:00 UTC, Jennifer Radloff, Connect Your Rights! project coordinator will be joining an expert panel to discuss how social justice organisations use ICTs in their work and the digital security risks involved. The event is open to anyone registered at www.guardian.co.uk and can also be followed on Twitter at #globaldevlive.
APC reports on eLAC outcomes from Montevideo IV Ministerial Conference
Last week, APC attended the Fourth Ministerial Conference on the Information Society in Montevideo, Uruguay, organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and attended a pre-event on Open Development: Exploring the future of the information society in LAC. Download and read the Declaration and Plan of action.
'Human rights and the internet' multimedia training kit released
APC presents a Multimedia training kit on human rights and the internet, a set of modules concerned with the relationship between human rights, information and communications technologies (ICTs) and the internet. These modules can be used freely to help those who work on human rights and ICTs to understand how the internet is affecting the protection of rights.
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.
