The Internet is having a tremendous impact on freedom of expression and other human rights across the African continent, offering social, political and economic opportunities. But as a highly complex and fast-changing environment, the Internet also brings with it its own challenges. In Africa, many of these challenges are playing out in a unique way. We are witnessing growing threats from governments and businesses to exercise greater control of the Internet, including, most recently, through extensive surveillance mechanisms. As access to the internet slowly increases across the continent, the broader African political leadership seems to either be learning or replicating international worst practices, or a mutual agreement to diminish the civic spaces through a series of national level pieces of legislation.
The meeting, organised by Global Partners Digital and APC, will explore the opportunities for an African Declaration on Internet Rights. The agenda will cover an in-depth discussion of a select number of key issues to be addressed in any declaration, for example access to the internet, and cybersecurity and surveillance; it will also cover strategies for developing an African Declaration on Internet Rights at the African Union. There will be a half day introductory training session for organisations with little or no experience working on internet issues.
Resources:
*Recommendations from African IGF pre-event
*APC Background paper (Brief overview – issues and actors)
*2011 Special Rapporteurs Joint Declaration on Freedom of Joint Declaration on Freedom of Expression and the Internet
*Report of the Special Rapporteur to the General Assembly on the right to freedom of opinion and expression exercised through the Internet
*APC Internet Rights Charter
*IRP Charter
Logistics Advisory
View the logistics advisory here.
Evaluation:
At the end of the workshop, participants are encouraged to submit an evaluation of the workshop. A link will be shared.