News
The question of the day: How to protect human rights online while countering violent extremism?
Among the more than a dozen reports from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that were discussed last week at the Human Rights Council, one addressed a topic very relevant to internet policy and regulation: how to protect and promote human rights while preventing and countering violent extremism.
Internet rights at the Human Rights Council 33rd session
The 33nd session of the Human Rights Council is taking place 12-30 September 2016, and will address the human rights situation in numerous countries where rights violations extend to the online environment. This session will also consider a number of thematic reports that recognise the importance of ICTs for the full realisation of human rights.
APC condemns the affront to democracy in Brazil
APC firmly condemns the decision of the Brazilian Senate to dismiss President Dilma Rousseff. We are deeply concerned about the implications this will have for the possibility to reinforce the use of the internet as a platform for public deliberation and debate, accountability, and dissent, and for the realisation of human rights.
AWID International Forum in Brazil will explore how feminists engage with the internet
Feminism – in all of its diversity and creativity – will be at the heart of engagement with technology from 8 to 11 September in Costa do Saruípe, Brazil. APC’s Women’s Rights Programme will be at the 13th AWID International Forum, bringing together activists, researchers and techies to work on advancing a feminist internet.
Pakistan's human rights record under scrutiny at the Human Rights Committee
The manner in which the government of Pakistan orchestrated the forceful enactment of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act is demonstrative of its blatant disregard for human rights and due process. APC, Bytes for All, Pakistan and Media Matters for Democracy worked on a joint submission to the Human Rights Committee, presenting a detailed picture of the practices that impact internet rights in Pakistan.
FeministInternet.net is here!
Version 2.0 of the Feminist Principles of the Internet is already out, and it has a new online platform that allows you to contribute to the collective construction of the Principles. Visit FeministInternet.org and help us shape the internet we want!
APC promotes the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms at Highway Africa
Highway Africa, a conference at the centre of Africa’s debates on journalism, media and information and communications technology (ICT), has become the largest annual gathering of African journalists in the world. APC is participating as part of our efforts to promote the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms.
(Re)coding power: Hacking, occupying and creating a feminist internet
The APC Women’s Rights Programme will be hosting a one-day pre-event on 7 September at the AWID Forum to Imagine a Feminist Internet. Join us to share your ideas and activism on feminism and technology.
Job opportunity at APC: Africa Policy Coordinator
Contribute to building an open and free internet which promotes social justice by joining APC to coordinate its internet policy work in Africa. The purpose of the position is to coordinate implementation of APC’s internet policy, internet rights, internet governance and networking activities in Africa. The deadline for applications is 2 September 2016.
The Feminist Internet Exchange at the 13th AWID International Forum
From 8 to 11 September, in Costa do Saruípe, Brazil, we will hold a space that puts feminism – in all of its diversity and creativity – at the heart of engagement with technology, bringing together activists, researchers and techies working on advancing a feminist internet. You’ll get new ideas, inspiration and maybe even potential collaboration!
“Although the cyber crime bill will soon become law, the movement to oppose or amend it has not come to an end"
Pakistan’s new and controversial cyber crime bill is poised to become a law after the National Assembly passed it this week. Media Matters for Democracy, Bytes for All, Pakistan and APC remain extremely concerned over the failure of legislators to ensure that the law fulfils basic human rights standards.
Bytes for All new report: Internet Landscape of Pakistan 2016
APC member Bytes for All, Pakistan has raised concern over the declining state of fundamental rights in online spaces, highlighting the government’s strategy of fighting terrorism by infringing upon civil liberties. Bytes for All’s 2016 edition of its Internet Landscape of Pakistan series, documents and analyses the state of cyberspace in the country as ‘troubling’.
Call for applications for the fourth African School on Internet Governance
APC and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency are pleased to announce the call for applications for the fourth African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG). It will be held in Durban, South Africa from 11 to 15 October 2016 in conjunction with the African Internet Governance Forum.
New APC member Rhizomatica supports world's first federated, community-owned cellular network
Mexico’s indigenous communities are getting their own telecoms thanks to APC member Rhizomatica.
Not just a thematic area: Sexual rights, gender, health and rights of defenders at the United Nations HRC 2016
Pluses were the 32nd session of HRC acknowledging that women face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, online violence got a mention and so did indigenous women human rights defenders. Negatives were how far is all this from the realities of sexuality and gender based discrimination and violence.
Special Rapporteur on violence against women calls to prioritise online violence against women
In her first report to the Human Rights Council on its 32nd session, the new Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dubravka Šimonović, outlines thematic priorities for her mandate, including “online violence against women as a new challenge”.
Engage with the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms
APC launches a new feature of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms to foster engagement with the principles through shared resources and multimedia content about internet rights in Africa.
Call for contributions on the internet and human rights in Africa
APC is calling for submissions of articles, case studies, interviews, publication reviews and other creative audio and visual contributions that explore how the internet [can / does / could] play a role in upholding human rights in Africa. Deadline for submissions is 25 July!
Statement on the recent attacks on Black Lives Matter's website
The official Black Lives Matter website (http://blacklivesmatter.com) has experienced a massive denial of service attack starting this past weekend and continuing at this time. The site remains functional due largely to the protections provided by Deflect, a program made available by eQualit.ie.
What is your organisation's DNA? An interview with Paz Peña on strategic communications for advocacy
In a changing environment with tremendous competition among messages, how can we ensure that our communications have maximum impact? APCNews talked to Paz Peña, a Chilean journalist and social communicator who has been working on digital rights issues for the past eight years.
