Blog – Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

17Dec

Job Opportunity: CIPESA Seeks a Communications Officer

CIPESA December 17, 2024December 17, 2024

Call for Applications |

Job title: Communications Officer

Deadline for applications: January 10, 2025

Location: Can be Remote, or based at CIPESA office in Kampala, Uganda

Duration: Two (2) Years

About CIPESA

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) works to defend and expand the digital civic space to enable the protection and promotion of human rights and to enhance innovation and sustainable development. With a focus on disparate actors, including the private sector, civil society, media, policymakers, and multinational institutions, our work aims to engender a free, open, and secure internet that advances rights, livelihoods, and democratic governance. CIPESA’s work responds to a shortage of information, research, resources, and actors consistently working at the nexus of technology, human rights, and society.

CIPESA is seeking a Communications Officer to help increase the visibility of our work in defending and expanding the digital civic space.

Job Summary:

This is an opportunity to work with CIPESA’s expanding team and network of collaborators, including the private sector, civil society, media, academia, policymakers, and multinational institutions. The Communications Officer will work collaboratively with the CIPESA team to create, implement, and oversee internal and external communications programmes that effectively engender a free, open, and secure internet that advances rights, livelihoods, and democratic governance.

Key Areas of Accountability Include:

Implement the CIPESA Communications Strategy, so as to increase brand awareness and recognition and to reach out to external stakeholders and respond to the needs of targeted audiences.
Document and communicate CIPESA’s work through powerful storytelling using various tools and platforms.
Manage communication tools to ensure that CIPESA partners and collaborators are kept informed and engaged and messages effectively and consistently describe CIPESA and its goals and activities.
Monitor and evaluate communication and advocacy activities.
Manage the production of CIPESA publications, including research reports, impact reports, policy briefs, annual reports and newsletters.
Work with CIPESA staff to draft, edit and refine press releases, talking points, blog posts, speeches, grant applications and other external communications.
Engage staff and key stakeholders in promoting CIPESA’s mission. This includes establishing rapport with them and ensuring visibility.
Oversee and grow the content of CIPESA’s website and other digital and social media resources.
Liaise with various media houses and content publishers for publicity and promotion as required.
Media monitoring and outreach to mainstream and technology-focused media.
Manage the communications related logistics and support for CIPESA events.
Oversee the maintenance of CIPESA’s contact database, events and publications calendar, and other communication tools.
Curate thematic news content for CIPESA’s platforms including reporting on the latest trends and developments in technology in the region.
Conducting other tasks as appropriate to support CIPESA’s mission.

Qualifications and Experience:

This position is applicable to people with at least five years of relevant experience. An ideal candidate would demonstrate the following:

Undergraduate degree and/or equivalent experience in communications, public affairs, advocacy or journalism; and a demonstrated interest/knowledge related to one or more of these fields: human rights law or policy, technology policy, digital rights, social or development studies. Postgraduate qualifications are a distinct advantage.
Outstanding verbal and written communication skills — including strong writing and editing skills for different platforms (social media, blogs, campaign tool kits) and varied external audiences.
Experience working with journalists or in the media.
Proficiency in creatively using digital and social media, including multimedia content development and storytelling.
Confidence/experience in multi-stakeholder environments and differing cultural settings, and in working with diverse constituencies.
Exceptional project and time management, planning and organisational skills, resourcefulness and attention to detail.
Fluency in English is required, and proficiency in another language is an advantage.
Familiarity with Content Management Systems and creative software suites are an advantage.

Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with experience. CIPESA provides a benefits package that includes health care, provident fund, statutory pension and paid leave.

Standards of Professional Conduct: CIPESA staff and partners must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Code of Conduct, and the Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) Policy. In accordance with these, CIPESA operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, and several others.

To Apply: Please send your interest including a cover letter detailing why you think your skill set would be ideal for this position, along with a CV, the names and contact details of two referees and 2-3 writing/content samples in one PDF file to [email protected] with Application for Communications Officer in the email subject line.

13Dec

ANALYSIS: Zambia’s Proposed Cyber Laws Facilitate Suppression of Civil Liberties

CIPESA Writer December 13, 2024December 13, 2024

Zambia has published the Cyber Security Bill, 2024 and the Cyber Crimes Bill, 2024, which would repeal the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act of 2021. These proposed laws’ objective of combating cyber crimes and promoting a safe and healthy digital society is welcome, as is the need for the country to strengthen its cyber security posture, including through legislation.

However, the current drafts of the laws not only miss the opportunity to cure some of the deficiencies in the 2021 cyber crimes law they are repealing but also introduce several, more regressive provisions.

In an analysis of the two Bills, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and the Bloggers of Zambia, who also hosts the Zambia CSO Coalition on Digital Rights, point to the retrogressive and vague provisions in the two Bills, and offer recommendations that can render the proposed laws more robustly rights-respecting and effective in combating cyber crimes.

The bills have some progressive provisions, such as the separation of cybersecurity and cybercrime functions; the structured cybersecurity governance that includes the creation of dedicated bodies such as the Cyber Security Agency and the Cyber Incident Response Teams (CIRTs); and provision of a framework for mutual legal assistance and cooperation with foreign entities. The bills also introduce new offences in response to emerging cyberthreats, such as identity-related crimes, attacks on critical information infrastructure, cyber harassment, cyber terrorism, and “revenge pornography”.

However, the list of concerns is much longer, as detailed below:

Weak Human Rights and procedural safeguards: The bills do not affirm adherence to regional and international human rights standards and obligations, such as privacy, freedom of expression, access to information, or due process. Also, enforcement measures lack comprehensive human rights and due process safeguards to ensure provisions and practices are proportionate, necessary, and pursue legitimate aims.

Potential for abuse of power: The bills provide law enforcement agencies significant discretion in applying their provisions, thereby increasing risks for political interference, unchecked surveillance and the widespread targeting of dissenters. These are aided by broad surveillance powers and ambiguous definitions of terms and offences, which create room for subjective interpretation and arbitrary application. These could be used to suppress freedom of expression and legitimate public discourse.

Weak oversight and governance: There are limited independent or judicial review processes mandated for surveillance, data collection, or search and seizure activities. Further, the centralised control of the Cyber Security Agency and Central Monitoring and Co-ordination Centre (CMCC) and the absence of independent oversight mechanisms raise accountability concerns. Also, there is no clear separation of cybersecurity functions from the cybercrime-related functions between the two bills, which could lead to duplication and implementation challenges.
Overly broad surveillance powers: Law enforcement is granted broad interception powers including real-time data collection and communication interception and extensive search-and-seizure powers. The provisions do not include clear limits or provide sufficient safeguards such as judicial oversight, proportionality, or transparency and accountability.

Insufficient safeguards for privacy: The bills enable widespread surveillance and interception without clear provisions on data retention limits, purpose limitation, secure handling of intercepted data and oversight. This could allow for indefinite storage of data, increasing the risk of misuse or unauthorised access. Also, the absence of anonymity protections for whistleblowers, journalists, and researchers could criminalise legitimate anonymous or pseudonymous activities. The provisions limit privacy rights, and are in total disregard of the country’s Data Protection Act, 2021.

General Recommendations

Provide adequate human rights and procedural safeguards: Incorporate a dedicated section affirming the bill’s compliance with Zambia’s constitutional and international human rights obligations. Further, align the bills with the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa and the African Union Convention on Cybercrime and Personal Data Protection. In addition, conduct a Regulatory and Human Rights Impact Assessment and require periodic review of the bill’s implementation for potential human rights impacts.
Strengthen oversight and governance mechanisms: Introduce mandatory independent judicial oversight, notification and documentation and annual reporting requirements on the use of powers under the bill, ensuring accountability and public trust. Establish independent oversight mechanisms for the Cybersecurity Agency, CMCC and surveillance practices.

Review the structure and functioning of the newly established agencies vis-a-vis the roles of other agencies e.g. Office of the President, Ministry of ICT, Zambia Information Technology Authority (ZICTA), security agencies, among others, to enhance coordination and avoid duplication of roles and fragmentation. It is also important to have clear delineation of cybersecurity functions and cybercrime functions to avoid confusion or duplication of roles.

Ensure proportionality: Many offences in the Cyber Crimes Bill criminalise minor or vague conduct without proportionality thresholds. Introduce proportionality clauses limiting criminalisation to significant harm, or graduated scales that enhance penalties based on severity, complexity and impact of offences on victims, critical infrastructure or organisations.
Invest in capacity building: Provide a framework for training of law enforcement, prosecution and judiciary officials on applying the law proportionately, balancing enforcement with human rights protection.
Ensure compliance with data protection laws: Ensure the bills align with the provisions of Zambia’s Data Protection Act, 2021, to protect individuals’ privacy rights.

The full analysis can be found here.

10Dec

Human Rights Day: Here’s How African Countries Should Advance Digital Rights

CIPESA December 10, 2024December 11, 2024

By Edrine Wanyama and Patricia Ainembabazi |

As the world marks Human Rights Day 2024, themed Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now, we are reminded of the urgent need to advance and protect human rights in an increasingly digital world. Today, CIPESA joins the world in commemorating Human Rights Day and reflecting on the immense opportunities that the digital age brings for the realisation of human rights. Indeed, this year’s theme emphasises the need for immediate actions to safeguard rights in the digital sphere for a just and equitable future.

Whereas human rights have traditionally been enjoyed in offline spaces, the digital landscape presents unprecedented opportunities for the enjoyment of a broad range of rights, including access to information, civic participation, and freedom of expression, assembly, and association. However, the potential of digital technology to catalyse the enjoyment of these rights has steadily been threatened by challenges such as internet shutdowns, regressive laws that enable governments to clamp down on the digital civic space, and the digital divide.

The threats to digital rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Africa are numerous. They are often the result of growing authoritarianism and repression, political instability, corruption, the breakdown of public institutions, gender disparities, and growing socio-economic inequalities. Below are key intervention areas to advance digital rights on the continent.

Combat Internet Shutdowns and Internet Censorship

Internet shutdowns are increasingly used as a tool to suppress dissent, stifle freedom of expression, restrict access to information and freedom of assembly and association. The #KeepItOn coalition documented at least 146 incidents of shutdowns in 37 countries in Africa between January 2016 and June 2023. These disruptions continue despite evidence that they harm individuals’ rights, are counterproductive for democracy, and have long lasting impacts on national economies and individuals’ livelihoods.

A separate survey of 53 African countries shows that, as of 2023, the majority (44) had restrictions on political media, 34 had implemented social media restrictions, two restricted VPN use and seven restricted the use of messaging and Voice Over IP applications.
Governments must commit to keeping the internet open and accessible, while telecom companies must uphold transparency and resist arbitrary shutdown orders. The African Union’s recent Resolution 580 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) should specifically guide governments in keeping the internet on, even during electoral periods.

Curb Unmitigated Surveillance

The privacy of individuals while using digital technologies is critical to protecting freedom of expression, the right to privacy, assembly, and association. Unregulated surveillance practices threaten privacy and freedom of expression across Africa, often targeting journalists, activists, and political opponents. Governments must adopt robust data protection laws, ensure judicial oversight over surveillance, and implement transparency mechanisms to prevent abuse. In many countries, laws governing state surveillance have gaps that allow state institutions to target government critics or political opposition members by conducting surveillance without sufficient judicial, parliamentary, or other independent, transparent and accountable oversight.

Through research and training, CIPESA has highlighted the dangers of mass surveillance and supported the development of data protection frameworks. Our work with National Human Rights Institutions in countries like Ethiopia has strengthened their capacity to monitor and address surveillance abuses.

Combat Disinformation

The proliferation of disinformation is detrimental to citizens’ fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of assembly and association and participation, especially in electoral democracy. It also means that many citizens lack access to impartial and diverse information. Disinformation undermines trust, polarises societies, and disrupts democratic processes. Combating disinformation requires governments, civil society, and private sector collaboration on fact-checking, media literacy campaigns, and rights-respecting regulations.

Our extensive research on countering disinformation in Africa provides actionable recommendations for addressing this challenge. By partnering with media organisations, platforms, and fact-checking initiatives, CIPESA has promoted factual reporting and fought misinformation, particularly during elections.

Fight Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)

Online harassment and abuse disproportionately target women and marginalised groups, limiting their ability to engage freely in digital spaces. Governments, intermediaries, and civil society must collaborate to ensure safer online environments and provide support systems for victims. Also, African countries need clear laws against TFGBV, with attendant capacity development for the judiciary and law enforcers to implement those laws.

CIPESA continues to conduct workshops on addressing gender-based violence in digital spaces and supporting organisations working on these issues, equipping key actors with tools to report and counter this vice. Our advocacy efforts have also emphasised platform accountability and comprehensive anti-TFGBV policies.

De-weaponize the Law

The digital civic space and the emerging issues such as disinformation, misinformation, false news and national security and public order have created opportunities for authoritarian governments to weaponise laws in the name of efforts to curb “abuse” by citizens. Unfortunately, the laws are employed as repressive tools targeted at curtailing freedom of expression, access to information, assembly and association online. Indeed they have been employed to gag the spaces within which freedoms were enjoyed, and to silence critics and dissenters. Governments should embark on a clear reform agenda to repeal all draconian legislation and enact laws which are progressive and align with the established regional and international human rights standards.

As part of CIPESA’s efforts to expose civic space wrongs and manipulations through publishing of policy briefs and legal analyses, we enjoin partners, collaborators and other tech sector players in amplifying voices that call for actions to expose the misuse of laws on information disorder, anti-cybercrime laws and other repressive legislation through evidence based advocacy that could fundamentally influence successful challenge of unjust laws in courts, regional forums and human rights enforcement mechanisms for galvanisation of success across the continent.

Arrest the Digital Divide

The digital divide remains a significant barrier to the enjoyment of rights and to inclusive citizen participation, with rural, underserved communities, and marginalised groups disproportionately affected. This divide excludes millions from accessing opportunities in education, healthcare, and economic participation. Common contributing factors include high internet usage costs, expensive digital devices, inadequate digital infrastructure and low digital literacy. Addressing this gap requires affordable internet, investment in rural connectivity, and digital literacy programmes.

CIPESA’s research sheds light on the main barriers to connectivity and affordability, including the effective use of Universal Service Funds. Promoting inclusive digital access, particularly for marginalised communities, requires collective action from governments and other tech sector players, calculated towards enabling equitable access to, and utilisation of digital tools.

Promote Multistakeholder Engagements

The complexity of digital rights challenges necessitates continuous collaboration and building of partnerships amongst governments, civil society, and private sector actors. CIPESA has facilitated multistakeholder dialogues that bring together diverse actors to address digital rights concerns, including national dialogues and the annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica). These engagements have led to actionable commitments form governments, civil society and other tech sector players and strengthened partnerships for progressive reforms.

Last Word

CIPESA reaffirms its commitment to advancing digital rights for all across Africa. However, the challenges to meaningful enjoyment of digital rights and the advancement of digital democracy are myriad. The solutions lie in concerted efforts by various actors, including governments, the private sector, and civil society, all of whom must act now to protect digital rights for a better human rights future .

10Dec

New Toolkit to Guide National Human Rights Institutions in Promoting Digital Rights

CIPESA December 10, 2024December 11, 2024

Edrine Wanyama |

In an increasingly digital world, safeguarding human rights requires innovative tools, robust mechanisms, and strategic collaboration. Recognising this need, the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), and Paradigm Initiative (PIN) have developed a groundbreaking Toolkit to strengthen the ability of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Africa to protect and promote human rights in the digital era.

While emphasising the role of NHRIs in both promoting and protecting these rights, the Toolkit demystifies digital rights by providing their relationship with the traditionally known rights and demonstrating how digital rights violations can occur.

The digital transformation sweeping across the globe has created new opportunities for citizens to communicate, express themselves, and claim their various rights. However, it has also ushered in unprecedented challenges, including online censorship, surveillance, misinformation, and violations of privacy. These digital threats disproportionately affect marginalised communities, activists, and human rights defenders, making the role of NHRIs more critical than ever.

The Toolkit equips NHRIs with the knowledge, tools, and strategies they need to effectively address these challenges. It emphasises the intersection of human rights with digital technologies and provides actionable insights to promote accountability, transparency, and inclusivity in digital governance.

The Toolkit highlights the various forms of digital rights violations such as internet shutdowns, throttling, and blocking; content restrictions including filtering and takedown orders, onerous obligations on intermediaries, restrictive content moderation policies, and the widespread and unchecked digital surveillance.

Among the roles that NHRIs should play are providing technical advice to government ministries, legislators, the judiciary, and other stakeholders to shape progressive laws, designing digital literacy curricula, and capacity and awareness building of the relevant institutions and stakeholders. Others are research on the impact of digital technologies, application of regional and international human rights approaches, and oversight over public sector procurement of digital technologies.

How NHRIs Can Protect Digital Rights

In the context of digital rights, NHRIs may:

Monitor proposed legislation with respect to its impact on digital rights and submit recommendations on how to ensure human rights compliance.
Incorporate digital rights topics, such as online privacy rights violations and incidents of government ordered network disruptions, into annual reporting and submissions to UN mandate holders and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and other regional and international human rights monitoring processes.
Connect with domestic and regional digital rights organisations to coordinate efforts to address digital rights violations.
Revise existing intake material to systematically receive complaints of digital rights violations
Ensure internal policies and methodologies for investigating, analysing, and reporting take into consideration the types of information, data, and tools needed to address digital rights violations
When supporting complainants and victims, provide resources and referrals for digital security best practices and capacity building so they can better protect themselves as they seek redress
Investigate digital rights violations and call for the necessary measures to end them and ensure non-recurrence.

The Toolkit also underscores the need for NHRIs to build their internal capacities to report and respond to digital rights violations, reporting and monitoring the implementation of laws, coordinating digital rights issues with regional and international institutions, and investigating digital rights violations to ensure that violations stop and justice is served.

The Toolkit is an important resource that can be utilised to equip various stakeholders with knowledge to respond to emerging digital rights challenges and to identify viable solutions, such as monitoring, documenting and reporting, to enhance the promotion and protection of digital rights. As such, it could go a long way in helping to address common digital rights violations and leveraging resources and partnerships for the protection and promotion of digital rights in Africa.

03Dec

The AU Disability Protocol Comes Into Force: Implications for Digital Rights for Persons with Disabilities in Africa

CIPESA December 3, 2024December 5, 2024

By Paul Kimumwe & Michael Aboneka |

On this International Day for Persons with Disabilities, CIPESA reflects on the impact of the African Union (AU) Disability Protocol and its Implication on digital rights for persons with disabilities in Africa and calls upon the African Commission to establish a Special Mandate to enhance the respect for and protection of the rights for persons with disabilities in Africa

Six years after its adoption, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa came into force in May 2024 after securing the mandatory 15^th ratification by the Republic of Congo. The other 14 African Union member states that have ratified the Protocol are Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, and Uganda.

For disability rights activists, this was a defining moment as the protocol augments the rights of persons with disabilities to barrier-free access to the physical environment, transportation, information, and other communication technologies and systems. Specifically, under articles 23 and 24 of the protocol, States Parties should take “effective and appropriate measures” to facilitate the full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of the right to freedom of expression and opinion and access to information, including through the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has been a longstanding advocate for African governments to urgently ratify the protocol. However, CIPESA has also stated, including in submissions to the Africa Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), that ratifying the protocol would be a major but insufficient step in ensuring that persons with disabilities access and use digital technologies and that there is sufficient disaggregated data to inform programme interventions.

Indeed, article 24(2) requires States Parties to put in place policy, legislative, administrative, and other measures to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the right to freedom of expression and access to information on an equal basis, including:

Providing information intended for the general public as well as information required for official interactions with persons with disabilities in accessible formats and technologies appropriate to different kinds of disabilities in a timely manner and without additional cost to persons with disabilities.
Requiring private entities that provide services to the general public, including through the internet, to provide information and services in accessible and usable formats for persons with disabilities.
Recognising and promoting the use of sign language.
Ensuring that persons with visual impairments or with other print disabilities have effective access to published works, including by using information and communication technologies.

The protocol adds to the available digital rights advocacy tools for disability rights actors, including the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which places significant obligations on States Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal and meaningful access to ICT, including the internet.

The CRPD was the first international human rights treaty requiring the accessibility of digital tools as a prerequisite for persons with disabilities to fully enjoy their fundamental rights without discrimination. It highlights the inherent risks of exclusion of persons with disabilities from participating equally in society by defining ICT accessibility as integral to general accessibility rights and on par with access to the physical environment and transportation.

While there has been some progress in the enactment of disability rights-respecting and ICT-enabling laws for persons with disabilities in Africa, implementation is a challenge. Moreover, the Protocol comes into force when the digital divide and exclusion of persons with disabilities has worsened despite the exponential growth and penetration of digital technologies on the continent. Persons with disabilities have consistently remained disproportionately excluded from the digital society due to factors such as low levels of ICT skills, high illiteracy levels, and high cost of assistive technologies such as screen readers, screen magnification software, text readers, and speech input software.

It is against this background that CIPESA adds its voice to other calls to the African Commission to expedite the establishment of a special mandate at the level of Special Rapporteur for Persons with Disabilities. This elevated position will ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa are mainstreamed and upheld.

CIPESA recognises that as a regional human rights instrument, the protocol empowers disability rights actors to demand the enactment and full implementation of policies and laws that promote the rights of persons with disabilities, including in accessing and using digital technologies.

For example, disability rights actors, including civil society, activists, and Disability Rights Organisations (DPOs), should develop mechanisms to monitor the status of implementation of the protocol, including ensuring that the states parties submit their statutory reports as required by Article 34 of the protocol. The DPOs should also actively participate in developing shadow reports on the status of implementation of the protocol, especially on access to information and participation in public affairs.

In addition, disability rights organisations should work with policymakers and the executive to ensure that more countries ratify the protocol and domesticate it through national policies, laws, and practices. Both the protocol and the CRPD should become a reference point during any discussions of draft laws and policies that affect persons with disabilities.

For the media, it is important that, through their reporting, they hold governments accountable for failure to ratify or to fully implement the provisions of the protocol.

Member countries can also demand for accountability of their peers on the status of implementation of the key provisions of the protocol through the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

Please read more about CIPESA submissions on policy actions governments should take after ratifying the protocol. See also The Disability and ICT Accessibility Framework for Monitoring the Implementation of ICT Accessibility Laws and Policies in Africa.

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