Internet rights
Freedom of assembly, association, expression and religion are interconnected rights that people are increasingly using the internet to exercise. Within this context, backlash has come in the form of restrictions placed on these fundamental freedoms by States and outright attacks by non state actors. In Asia, evidence of these trends is seen through examples such as the introduction of new legislation governing online spaces; the application of existing legislation on blasphemy or religious se...
Privacy, access to information, free expression, non-discrimination and the free flow of information online are some of the concerns of this year's Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (#FIFAfrica17). Co-organised by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), this meeting will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 27 to 29 September 2017. This will expand the physical foot...
In 2016, APC produced its annual edition of the Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) on economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs) and the internet. Some of the topics are familiar to information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) activists: the right to health, education and culture; the socioeconomic empowerment of women using the internet; the inclusion of rural a...
A coalition of some 35 civil society organisations has written to several international bodies including the African Union and the United Nations Human Rights Council over the recent internet shutdown in Togo. Signatories to the letter include Paradigm Initiative, Reporters Without Borders, World Wide Web Foundation, Access Now, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), G...
The establishment of 7amleh was driven by the necessity to raise the profile and capacity of online Palestinian advocacy, both in terms of raising awareness of Palestinian issues to an international audience, but also among Palestinians themselves. With this statement, Palestinian NGO 7amleh – Arab Center for Social Media Advancement welcomes visitors to its work, which focuses on improving t...
From 6 to 23 June, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) held its 35th session, with debates on the situation of human rights worldwide. From harassment of human rights defenders and civil society activists, to crackdowns on freedom of expression and media freedom, to the threats faced by women and girls under conflict, a diversity of issues were highlighted. As we pointed out with our ...
The internet is changing the ways in which people interact, trade, learn and communicate. For those who have got access to it, it is becoming increasingly difficult to imagine life without it. It offers us all kinds of opportunities, including exercising our human rights both online and offline, as different United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council resolutions have established. The internet als...
The 35th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place from 6 to 23 June 2017 at the United Nations Office at Geneva. Internet rights are considered throughout the HRC agenda, with the HRC scheduled to discuss the report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression regarding threats like internet...
As the world commemorates Africa Day this week, APC is convening a roundtable in partnership with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting, which will take place between 26 and 28 May 2017 at the SAHRC headquarters, will gather representatives of national human rights ...
The balance between state powers and rights of citizens is a symbol of democracy. With the advent of the internet, exercising free speech, expression, association and assembly have become much easier. It has not only made communication technology affordable but has also given a platform for self-expression, which was otherwise not available through traditional media. However, most countries bui...
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) 2018
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