FIFAfrica17 |
The Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica) 2017 is now just a few weeks away and indeed, we are working to ensure the delivery of an insightful, engaging Forum. As such, below are some updates and key information to facilitate your planning and participation at the Forum.
Venue
The Forum will be hosted at Sunnyside Park Hotel, located on Princess of Wales Terrace & Carse O’Gowrie Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Registration and travel support
Thank you for indicating interest to attend the Forum. We are really excited about the diversity and profile of those expected to be in attendance. The deadline for applications for travel support was August 30, 2017 and we received over 200 applications for travel support to participate at FIFAfrica. Review of applications for travel support is ongoing and successful applicants are being contacted directly on a rolling basis. All successful travel support applicants will have received direct communication by September 8, 2017.
Travel Advisory
A travel note is available to enable planning for your attendance of the Forum. For self sponsored participants that require a visa letter, please email [email protected] and copy [email protected].
Session Proposals
We have received many insightful session proposals! Thank you for the numerous submissions. The session review committee worked meticulously to go through each and every submission made and as such, finalisation took slightly longer than anticipated, our apologies for the delay. Below are the successful proposals that have been integrated into the agenda. Please note that some session proposers have been shortlisted as panelists on different sessions after each of their proposals was found to be in resonance with the FIFAfrica themes and integrated into the session that made it to the agenda. We will be reaching out to those individuals directly and also sharing the working draft of the agenda in coming days.
Successful Panel Discussion Submissions
Catalysts for collaboration in strategic digital rights litigation – Nani Jansen Reventlow, Berkman Klein Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School
Innovation and Security in Somali Territories – Nicole Stremlau, University of Johannesburg/University of Oxford
Elections and Technology – Arthur Gwagwa and Moses Karanja, CIPIT (Kenya)
Freedom Online Coalition Meeting – US Department of State and Global Partners Digital (GDP)
Advancing a gender-sensitive approach to ICT Policy and decision making – Moses Owiny, Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
Building research capacity in internet measurements, cyber policy and digital rights – Chenai Chair, Research ICT Africa and Amreesh Phokeer Afrinic
Women’s safety online – Twasiima Patricia, Chapter Four (Uganda) and Betty Abah, CEE-Hope (Nigeria)
Privacy & Freedom of Expression – the Dilemma – Mariam Shinn, Parliament of South Africa & Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services and Michael Ilishebo, Zambia Police Service
The Politics of Technology in Africa – Iginio Gagliardone, Wits University (South Africa)
Digital Security Clinic – Access Now and Defend Defenders
Risk Assessment for CSOs – Access Now and Defend Defenders
Keep up with #KeepItOn – AccessNow
Successful Lightning talks
Sex and Sexuality Online in Africa – Koliwe Majama (Zimbabwe)
Internet in a fragile context: the case of Somalia – Abdi Hakim (Somalia)
Free wifi in Africa: philanthropic technology or cynical marketing ploy? – Affagnon Qemal (Benin)
Grassroots communities, youth and internet freedom – Thomas Sithole (Zimbabwe)
Improving the privacy and security of journalists, and activists in DR Congo – Narcisse Mbunzama (DR Congo)
Data Visualisation – Berhan Taye (Ethiopia)
FIFAfrica17 Pre-events
In the lead up the forum we have a series of events taking place by invitation and by registration. Follow the links below to read more about the pre-events and to confirm attendance. Please note that due to their time slots, it will not be possible to attend both events.
#FIFAfrica17 Pre-Event: Human Rights Review Mechanisms Workshop
Background: Do you want to build an understanding of the value of using human rights mechanisms? Do you want build the skills necessary and to learn how to use these mechanisms to hold states and other actors accountable for upholding human rights? Join this whole day workshop hosted by the Association of Progressive Communications (APC), the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa, and Small Media which will aim to broaden the network of players upholding human rights across Africa.
#FIFAfrica17 Pre-Event: Strategic Digital Rights Litigation Training Workshop
Background: Litigation is an effective tool that can assist in removing restrictions on the free flow of information online in countries with repressive internet regimes. Yet, it is often under-utilized because of a lack of effective collaboration between different actors: lawyers, activists, academics and technical experts. This workshop, hosted by the Berkman Klein Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School and Media Legal Defense Initiative (MLDI) seeks to encourage internet activists to collaborate across disciplinary silos to more effectively push back against legal frameworks that are not conducive to a free and open internet.
#FIFAfrica17 Pre-Event: Digital Tools Localisation Sprint
Background: As more Africans come online, many local languages remain offline – particularly those which communicate information about digital security tools and applications. Join this workshop which will explore the use of local languages in the area of digital security. A key output will be the establishment of a technical glossary by language. The workshop will be hosted by the Localisation Lab.
Stay tuned for more updates and please continue sharing your thoughts on internet freedom using the #InternetFreedomAfrica hashtag. The event hashtag will be #FIFAfrica17.
