Introduction
Theme: Growing the #InternetFreedomAfrica Community
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is thrilled to be part of the 11th edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica), set to take place from September 24-27, 2024, in Dakar, Senegal. This marks a significant milestone as FIFAfrica will, for the first time, be hosted in Francophone Africa, a region that is often underrepresented in digital rights discussions.
As the continent’s leading platform for digital rights advocacy, this year’s event will focus on the state of digital democracy in Francophone Africa, highlighting issues like internet shutdowns, online censorship, and data protection. Senegal, with its strong democratic traditions and progressive digital policies, stands as a beacon of hope, offering a model for how digital rights can be nurtured and protected across Africa.
WOUGNET sees FIFAfrica as an essential space for fostering collaboration and dialogue on pressing digital rights issues, particularly those affecting women and marginalized groups. In previous forums, we have addressed the gender digital divide, online gender-based violence, digital safety, and data protection policies. This year, we will continue our advocacy for a gender-inclusive approach to internet freedom, emphasizing the critical need for equitable access to technology and stronger protections for women and girls in the digital age.
At FIFAfrica2024, WOUGNET will also delve into the lingering impacts of gendered disinformation on digital access for women and girls, and discuss strategies to combat online gender-based violence and enhance digital inclusion for women and girls, and other vulnerable groups.
Join us as we contribute to this vital conversation on the future of digital rights and internet freedom in Africa! Stay tuned for more updates on our participation and insights from the forum. More on Agenda: https://internetfreedom.africa/fifafrica-agenda/
PRE-EVENTS WHERE WOUGNET WILL BE PARTICIPATING
Development of a Digital Rights for Girls and Women Manual for Beginners
Pre-event Workshop
Host Institution: Enabel by Invitation only
Time: (12:13 PM GMT) 09:00 – 17:00 EAT, Tuesday 24th September 2024
Enabel, through the Digital Rights for Girls and Women (D4GW) project, is committed to bridging this digital divide by creating and equipping digital hubs in Burkina Faso and Uganda, where women and girls can access computers and the internet in a safe and supportive environment. These hubs are not just about providing access; they also focus on building the digital skills of women and girls, enabling them to use technology to improve their daily lives and increase their income. The project has already trained dozens of women in basic and advanced computer skills and digital entrepreneurship, empowering them to leverage digital tools for economic growth.
Despite these efforts, the concept of digital rights remains new and complex, particularly for the target audience of women and girls. To address this, Enabel aims to develop a “Digital Rights Manual for Beginners” that simplifies these digital rights and makes them accessible to all. This manual will define key digital rights concepts in simple language, supported by concrete examples and visual aids to facilitate understanding. During the workshop, Enabel will work with stakeholders involved in the promotion of digital rights, to gather their experiences to draft a first version of the manual.
Speakers
Ensuring Rights-Respecting Approaches to Platform Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa: Global Guidance and Multi-stakeholder Perspectives
Host Institutions: Global Partners Digital, Paradigm Initiative, UNHR, & B-Tech.
When: Wednesday, 25th September 2024, from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM GMT.
Where: Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza, Rte de la Corniche O, Dakar 16868, Senegal.
The roundtable discussion will be an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss trends in platform governance, present and evaluate the role of international guidance, and examine different stakeholders’ perspectives, about emerging best practices in plenary.
Consultation on UNESCO’s Risk Assessment and Management Guide in the Context of Journalists’ Safety Online
When: 25 September 2024, from 14:00 to 17:30| Format: The consultation is a closed meeting and will operate under Chatham House Rule| Host Institutions: UNESCO and CIPESA|Location: Radisson Blu Hotel, Sea Plaza, Dakar, Senegal | Languages: English and French
Digital attacks and threats to journalists are on the rise, including surveillance, (gendered) online violence, mis- and disinformation and hate speech, as also emerged by 2022 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference focusing on “Journalism under Digital Siege”. UNESCO’s work on digital platform governance outlines human rights due diligence as one of the principles digital platforms should comply with and be accountable for.
UNESCO’s “Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms” outline the responsibility of digital platforms to adhere to international human rights standards while mitigating risks, particularly for those who live in a situation of vulnerability and marginalization.
In 2022 as part of the consultative process for the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, UNESCO conducted a consultation for a Risk Assessment and Management Framework for the safety of journalists online, resulting in the development of a draft version 2.0. The finalization of the Risk Assessment and Management Framework was predicated on the conclusion of the global consultations towards the “Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms”, which were finalized and published in November 2023. Based on the provisions of the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms, particularly in relation to human rights due diligence, it is necessary to update and finalize the Draft 2.0 that was developed in 2022 to ensure alignment with the Guidelines.
The Risk Assessment and Management Framework aims to guide digital platforms, journalists and media organizations with risk management strategies of anticipating and managing risks associated with the safety of journalists in digital environments. It can also be used by other stakeholders such as civil society organizations and researchers for the purposes of monitoring and accountability.
Objectives of the consultation: To continue the consultation process for the Risk Assessment and Management Framework before its launch at the beginning of 2025.
SESSIONS WHERE WOUGNET STAFF WILL BE SPEAKING
Closing the Gender Digital gap: A collaborative approach
Host Institution: Enabel
Session Date: Thursday, September 26th, 14:00 – 15:30 GMT
The digital divide remains a critical issue globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where disparities in access to digital technologies contribute to broader social and economic inequalities. This gap is most pronounced among women and girls, who often face significant barriers to accessing and effectively utilizing digital tools. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted and collaborative approach that brings together diverse stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations. The Digital for Girls and Women (D4GW) project exemplifies such an approach, promoting equal access to digital technologies for men and women in a secure environment. With a focus on Burkina Faso and Uganda, the project is structured around three key components:
- Facilitating access to digital tools for women and girls:
- Enhancing digital skills for women and girls:
- Raising awareness of digital rights:
This session aims to:
- Explore collaborative strategies: Discuss the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in addressing the digital gender divide.
- Share best practices: Provide a platform for sharing experiences and successful models from various sectors, including government, private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
- Promote digital rights: Highlight the importance of digital rights as a fundamental component of closing the digital gender gap, ensuring that all individuals can participate fully in the digital economy.
Moderator: Sebastian OTTE, D4D Expert at Enabel
Speakers:
- Peace Oliver Amuge, APC, Uganda
- Laurentia DA, Heroines du Faso, Burkina Faso
- Avis Momeni, PROTÉGÉ QV, Cameroon
- Esther Nyapendi, Women of Uganda Network, Uganda
- Aboubacar Diop, JONCTION, Senegal
The Role of Multistakeholderism in Countering Gendered Disinformation in Africa
Host Institution: Association for Progressive Communications|Date: Friday 27th September|Time: 2:00 pm-3:30 PM GMT Local time| Duration: 90 mins|Hall/ Room: Not indicated yet
Gendered disinformation has been on the rise across the continent, research points to several reasons for this trend such as religion, culture, elections, patriarchy, repressive legal frameworks, ignorance and lack of commitments from governments to counter gendered disinformation. Stakeholders, especially civil society, have put in efforts to undertake research, build capacity for the most vulnerable people, create awareness and develop tools that monitor gendered disinformation and fact-check information.
The speakers will reflect on the actions they have undertaken as researchers, civil society, academia, government, and platform owners to fight gendered disinformation, highlighting what has worked or not worked. The participants will be given a chance to share their experiences. At the end, both the speakers and participants will come up with a multistakeholder approach and synergies to counter Gendered Disinformation.
To explore the current status of gendered disinformation in the region? Analyse the actions taken by the different stakeholders in countering Gendered Disinformation. The outcome will be as follows; A collective multistakeholder approach and recommendations to counter Gendered Disinformation, a follow-up webinar to concretise on the recommendations and give the wider stakeholders who will not be at FIFAfrica 2024 an opportunity to contribute to the recommendations and actions.
Moderator: Peace Oliver Amuge; Africa Regional Strategy Lead at Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Uganda
Speakers
- Tigist S. Hussen; Research Lead and Project Coordinator at Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
- Sandra Aceng; Executive Director, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
- Angela Minayo; Program Officer, Digital Rights and Policy at ARTICLE 19 East Africa
- Sirley Gladys Nakyejwe; Senior IT Officer and IP Specialist at Ministry of ICT and National Guidance Uganda
- Muthuri Kathure; Advocacy Lead, East and Southern Africa at Mozilla
