Human rights and ICTs
APC is convinced that multilateralism and multistakeholderism are both necessary and can coexist, and both must be strengthened. We strongly support the IGF Plus model as the basis for establishing accountable, inclusive, participatory and effective global digital cooperation among all stakeholders.
In this statement delivered during the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, APC speaks to the deteriorating political situation in India and the increase in violence following the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) participated in a side event at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC43) to look at how to move forward on safeguarding the intersection of freedom of religion or belief and gender equality.
Since December 2019, peaceful protests have erupted throughout India in response to the adoption of the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. In response, India has witnessed large-scale violence against dissenters and a clampdown on freedoms of religion, expression, assembly and association.
At the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, states will consider a resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders for three years. Civil society organisations including APC are calling on all states to support the extension.
APC’s priorities at this HRC session include gender and privacy online, freedom of religion or belief, and the criminalisation of human rights defenders, journalists and digital security and tech expertise, as well as highlighting violations of internet rights in countries like India and Myanmar.
In India, a discriminatory citizenship law has sparked widespread protests, which have been met with arbitrary arrests, excessive force and violence by the authorities. APC took part in a side event at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council which addressed these human rights violations.
Ola Bini is a computer expert and human rights defender recognised worldwide, who is facing a political-judicial process in Ecuador since April 2019. In regards to this, Ecuadorian and international civil society organisations have decided to attend, as observers, the preparatory hearing and trial evaluation of 5 March 2020.
APC outlines positions on some of the areas covered in the digital strategies presented by the European Commission that will undoubtedly set a key precedent for global discussions on issues such as regulating platforms, data governance and artificial intelligence.
In response to the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) call for expressions of interest to join its Independent Advisory Committee (IAC), APC and other NGOs expressed their concerns about the IAC specifically, and the growing role of GIFCT more broadly in regulating content online.
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2022
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