Internet rights

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) welcomes the Resolution on the Right to Freedom of Expression on the Internet in Africa – ACHPR/Res. 362(LIX) 2016 – adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in Banjul on 4 November 2016. The resolution reaffirms the fundamental right to freedom of information and expression enshrined under Article 9 of the...

Chenai Chair, researcher and communications/evaluations officer at Research ICT Africa, was an AfriSIG participant and graduate of the 2015 edition. This year, however, she became a member of the faculty, and did a spectacular job as team coach, assisting Avri Doria in the practicum sessions. In this interview, she shares her insights from that new position. APCNews: How did you gener...

Together for a free and open internet is the motto for this year’s IGMENA Summit, an event bringing together more than a hundred digital rights activists, human rights defenders, journalists and other stakeholders around internet rights and internet governance in the Middle East and North Africa, between 30 September and 2 October in Tunis. Is there a shrinking space for privacy in Gulf count...

The 33nd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC33) is taking place from 12 to 30 September 2016 in Geneva. This session will consider the human rights situations in a number of countries including Syria, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia, among others. In many of these countries human rights violations extend to the online environment, through filtering o...

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) firmly condemns the decision of the Brazilian Senate to dismiss President Dilma Rousseff. This decision deeply undermines the democratic system in Brazil, as well as the political stability and the development of progressive and inclusive policies for the country. It also has negative effects for peace and integration in the Latin America reg...

How are feminists engaging with the internet politically and personally? What started out as a useful tool to support our activism is now a critical part of our organizing and must also be part of our political agenda. As technology developments increasingly impact rights and social justice, we must influence and build alliances with movements calling for a free and open internet, uncondition...

The manner in which the government of Pakistan orchestrated the forceful enactment of the controversial Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 is demonstrative of its blatant disregard for human rights and due process. Civil society, citizens and journalists have repeatedly raised concerns about the provisions of this legislation and have warned of the undesirable consequences to the s...

With the increasing use of the internet in various aspects of daily life as well as for the exercise of fundamental freedoms, it is critical that governments fulfil their obligation to promote and protect human rights online. However, in Pakistan, many of the restrictions imposed on rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), such as freedom of expressi...