Closer than ever

APC understands that we are all dealing with unprecedented circumstances as we face the challenges, fear and uncertainty brought on by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know it impacts our work, our personal lives and the lives of those we care about. Each country is tackling the situation differently, so the contexts we find ourselves in are as diverse as the ways we find to navigate shifting conditions.

In these exceptional times, we wish to send our solidarity and appreciation for connecting with us. While we are distancing ourselves physically, we continue to stay closer than ever to each other and share tools and resources as well as support. We also want to examine how we can continue to promote human rights online in the context of a global pandemic. We are all facing this problem together but we know it affects different countries and communities in different ways. Therefore, we would like to channel the strength of our network to share some important resources that we hope will be empowering, enlightening and reassuring.

Below you will find articles and insights shared by our community, which has been working on human rights and technology issues for over 30 years. We will be updating these lists on a regular basis, so please feel free to connect with us if you have some resources to share.

 

 

Gendered impact of COVID-19 on women in Kibera
Gendered impact of COVID-19 on women in Kibera 23 June 2021 KICTANet

Women living in informal settlements deal with everyday economic, political and social burdens that they need to overcome in order to create cohesion in their families and communities. Moreover, women are critical contributors to the survival of their households.

Joint civil society statement: People’s health and rights – and not intellectual property and profit – should be at the centre of responses to the COVID-19 crisis
Joint civil society statement: People’s health and rights – and not intellectual property and profit – should be at the centre of responses to the COVID-19 crisis 16 June 2021 Various

As international, regional and national civil society organisations working at the intersection of technology and human rights, we call on the world's governments to lift the intellectual property barriers that hinder universal access to health care and free COVID-19 vaccination for all.

The digital divide in India: How access to technology and reliable information affects India’s response to the pandemic
The digital divide in India: How access to technology and reliable information affects India’s response to the pandemic 09 June 2021 APCNews

With more than 349,000 deaths and more than 2.5 million active cases, people in India are struggling in the midst of an unrelenting surge of COVID-19 infections. How can we leverage technology to ensure access to reliable information in the midst of fake news and misinformation?

 DEF India: Providing relief to save lives with #CDERP2.0
DEF India: Providing relief to save lives with #CDERP2.0 12 May 2021 Digital Empowerment Foundation

As the second wave of COVID-19 hits Indian cities, rural India is also experiencing a rise in numbers, which could become a catastrophe of unimaginable scale if ignored. In response, DEF has launched an ICT-enabled and community-specific relief programme.

International civil society organisations demand that the Colombian government immediately stop its repression of the protests and guarantee the exercise of human rights, offline and online
International civil society organisations demand that the Colombian government immediately stop its repression of the protests and guarantee the exercise of human rights, offline and online 05 May 2021 Various

We firmly reject the violent repression in Colombia in response to the massive protests which began on 28 April. The Colombian state has the obligation to adopt the necessary measures to guarantee freedom of assembly and association and freedom of speech, on the internet and on the streets.

APC at the Stockholm Internet Forum
APC at the Stockholm Internet Forum 04 May 2021 APCNews

APC's participation will focus on highlighting strategies to counter gender-based violence online, discussing the intersections between technology, the environment and the exercise of human rights, debating the impact of COVID-19 on human rights, and promoting meaningful internet access.

One year in: COVID-19 deepening Africa's democratic regression
One year in: COVID-19 deepening Africa's democratic regression 30 April 2021 CIPESA

In September 2020, our research on the State of Internet Freedom in Africa established that the ultimate effect of the measures instituted in fighting COVID-19 was that they had deepened the democracy deficit in several African countries.

Inside the Digital Society: What to do about homeworking
Inside the Digital Society: What to do about homeworking 12 April 2021 David Souter

The pandemic’s changed a lot of ways in which societies are working. How far are these changes temporary and how far permanent? Should governments and businesses leverage these changes or seek to rebuild what’s been lost?

Food delivery workers in India: Emerging entrepreneurs or informal labour?
Food delivery workers in India: Emerging entrepreneurs or informal labour? 09 April 2021

Delivery workers in India are generally paid per delivery. Food delivery platforms term the delivery worker “independent contractors’’ or “delivery partners’’. Delivery workers are not considered traditional “employees”. The report follows Anand Kumar, a delivery worker for Swiggy and Zomato.

The contribution of bell hooks and Paulo Freire to the construction of community networks
The contribution of bell hooks and Paulo Freire to the construction of community networks 31 March 2021 Daiane Araujo dos Santos for GenderIT.org

Daiane Araujo dos Santos discusses the link between popular education and community networks, and argues that class, race and gender should be part of the analysis in the implementation of autonomous infrastructure and technical training dedicated to digitally excluded communities.

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