CONTEXT
According to latest Freedom House report, internet freedom declined for the 12th consecutive year in 2022. Only 70 countries are assessed, but they represent 89% of the world’s population. The report found only 18% of humanity living in locations categorised as "free”. Activists were arrested, charged, or imprisoned in 53 countries “in retaliation for posts about political or social causes”, and at least 40 countries, authorities blocked “social, political or religious content”.
The report also noted that “64% of humanity lives in contexts where individuals have been attacked or killed for their online activity”, just in the last 2 years. The Action focuses on 10 countries where the Digital Rights situation is most at risk: Senegal, Tunisia, Kenya, Somalia, OPT, Uganda, Cambodia, Vietnam, El Salvador and Bolivia.
Oxfam has years of experience working in all these countries, through local partners involved in digital rights, and via technical support/expertise with the Digital in Programs (DIP) Network at the Oxfam confederation and global level. All 10 of the countries selected are categorized by the Freedom House as either "Not Free” or "Partly Free”.
Each country context has a unique set of issues they confront in the digital rights space, however, there are several common threads among the main problems identified in all focus countries.
Among them are; the lack of basic awareness of digital rights, access to digital resources and digital literacy, and the knowledge and tools to protect themselves against online threats, government control of digital space; either to supress freedom of expression online or actively target CSOs and digital rights defenders for cyber-attacks, harassment & intimidation and/or surveillance, and lack of capacity within national civil society (NGOs, activists, academia) to confront and defend against these digital security and safety risks.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
With funding support from the European Union, Oxfam in Uganda, and the Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG) are implementing a 3-year nationwide program titled “Recentering the Civic Internet through Partner Engagement to create a value-based digital ecosystem that is safe for both civil society and rights defenders.
The project will be implemented in 10 countries including Senegal, Tunisia, Kenya, Somalia, OPT, Uganda, Cambodia, Vietnam, El Salvador and Bolivia to increase the collaboration between the ‘Global South’ and ‘Global North’ and amplify the voices of community members.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To cultivate a rights-respecting digital ecosystem that is values-based, human-centric and safe for civil society actors and human rights defenders.
EXPECTED RESULTS
- Civic activists and CSOs have increased agency to promote and defend rights online.
- Civic activists and CSOs have increased capacity for long-term participation in global, regional, and national digital rights debate within multistakeholder forums and increased influence on processes and policies that protect digital rights and inform internet governance.
- Policies and practices that protect digital rights and promote EU digital principles are enacted and enforced internationally and within participating regions and countries.
- CSO & the communities they support, and women and girls, have the access and digital literacy needed to participate socially and politically.
TARGET GROUPS
- Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
- Civic Activists and Human Rights Defenders
- Communities and Civil Society Representatives/Members
- Tech Companies
- Government Authorities.
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS
- Center for Constitutional Governance (CCG)
PROJECT COVERAGE
- National
PROJECT DURATION
- 3 Years (2024-2027)
FUNDED BY
- European Union
BUDGET
- €270,000
