MRA, KICTANet look out for digital human rights defenders
Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the
Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) have announced the launch of a Guide to the AU for Human Rights Defenders in
the Digital Age, an advocacy tool designed to enhance civil society engagement
with the African Union system on digital policy issues.
In a joint statement, the two
organizations hinged the publication of the advocacy guide on the fact that the
AU is an important political actor on the African continent and a regional
interlocutor in the international arena, which makes it imperative that
organizations seeking to advance respect for human rights in digital policy
have the right knowledge and skills to engage the AU.
They explained that the aim of
the 43-page guide is to help civil society organisations who are conducting or
intend to conduct policy advocacy within the African Union system on the human
rights aspects of any ICT or digital policy issues at the AU, including for
example network disruptions.
Edetaen Ojo, MRA’s Executive
Director and Grace Githaiga, Co-Convenor of KICTANet, said, “Whether you have
experience of engaging with the AU but are lacking ideas on how to use the AU
to advocate for human rights in the digital age, or an experienced digital
rights defender unfamiliar with the AU, this guide is for you!”
The guide presents an overview of
relevant organs, departments and agencies of the African Union, outlines how
they operate and provides guidance on the opportunities that exist for civil
society as well as strategies for ensuring effective advocacy engagement on
relevant digital policy issues.
For further information, please
contact Morisola Alaba, Legal Officer, Digital Rights, Media Rights Agenda, Lagos,
Nigeria, morisola@mediarightsagenda.net
OR
Grace Mutung'u, Associate, Kenya
ICT Action Network, Nairobi, Kenya, nmutungu@gmail.com
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