Access to information

"The forgotten constituency": Making a case for digital rights for prisoners in Zimbabwe during and beyond COVID-19
"The forgotten constituency": Making a case for digital rights for prisoners in Zimbabwe during and beyond COVID-19 13 June 2020 David Makwerere

In Zimbabwe, just like in many other parts of the world, prison is highly resented by society. This paper by David Makwerere tackles this largely unexplored subject on digital rights for prisoners.

Digital divisions: COVID-19 policy and practice and the digital divide in Africa
Digital divisions: COVID-19 policy and practice and the digital divide in Africa 12 June 2020 Charley Lewis

The sudden and dramatic advent of the COVID-19 global pandemic caught the world by surprise and left many floundering for responses, none more so than those in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector: the policy makers, regulators and internet and other ICT service providers.

7amleh: Know your digital rights
7amleh: Know your digital rights 02 June 2020

7amleh has published the first guidebook to Palestinian digital rights in Arabic and English. “Know Your Digital Rights: Towards a Safe, Fair & Free Palestinian Digital Space” gives an overview of the digital rights of Palestinians.

Coconet: Singing about global issues and COVID-19 with the Marapu community
Coconet: Singing about global issues and COVID-19 with the Marapu community 29 May 2020 Fendi Widianto and Joseph Lamont for Coconet

Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, health recommendations need to be conveyed to communities in remote areas that are separated both by distance and by the minority languages they speak. One medium that can be used to convey public messages is through song.

Rising Voices: Tweets about digital rights and African languages
Rising Voices: Tweets about digital rights and African languages 27 May 2020 Rising Voices

This five-week social media campaign invited five language digital activists from across Africa to focus on a particular digital rights issue in order to explore some considerations and implications for the use of African languages online.

Body and Data: Common myths and misinformation about COVID-19 in Nepal
Body and Data: Common myths and misinformation about COVID-19 in Nepal 19 May 2020 Neha Gauchan for Body & Data

Body & Data asked their followers on social media to answer some questions about misinformation circulating in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CIPESA: Uganda’s social media tax undermining COVID-19 fight
CIPESA: Uganda’s social media tax undermining COVID-19 fight 19 May 2020 Juliet Nanfuka for CIPESA

In Uganda, social media is one of the avenues for disseminating information on COVID-19 to citizens. however, the effectiveness has been undermined by the social media tax, which requires telecom subscribers to pay a daily subscription in order to access popular social media platforms.

Media Matters for Democracy expresses concern over safety of journalists covering COVID-19 health crisis
Media Matters for Democracy expresses concern over safety of journalists covering COVID-19 health crisis 12 May 2020 Media Matters for Democracy

Media Matters for Democracy is deeply concerned about reports of journalists in Pakistan forced to cover the COVID-19 public health crisis without adequate protective measures and safety precautions.

EngageMedia: Opposing the shutdown of Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN
EngageMedia: Opposing the shutdown of Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN 12 May 2020 Sara Pacia for EngageMedia

The last time a network was forced to stop broadcasting was during martial law under the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. At a time when credible sources of news and information are needed more than ever, the shutdown is seen as a blatant attack on freedom of the press and freedom of expression.

EngageMedia: Shooting COVID-19 in Manila
EngageMedia: Shooting COVID-19 in Manila 11 May 2020 King Catoy for EngageMedia

See how videojournalists in the Philippines are responding to the pandemic in this video from EngageMedia.

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