Joint Statement |
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) has joined several civil society organisations and individuals in a joint brief on the United Nations (UN) Global Digital Compact (GDC). The signatories to the joint brief have actively engaged in the GDC process since its inception and express concerns regarding the state of the GDC from a human rights perspective.
The joint brief is prompted by the recent decision of Member States to break the silence procedure on the UN GDC Revision 3, initially set for 16 July 2024, at 3:00 pm EDT. Notably, unlike all previous revisions, Revision 3 has not yet been made publicly available.
Countless hours have been dedicated over the past two years to inform and guide the GDC process, including participating in online and onsite consultations, conducting deep dives, hosting events, and engaging in conferences to center the discussion on those most impacted by digital policies. It is critical for the UN and its Member States to openly address how technology affects its mandate and efforts to promote human rights, peace and security, the rule of law, and development.
However, the current GDC outcome document does not reflect the realities witnessed on the ground and in diverse communities across the Global Majority and Global North. It falls short of addressing the critical issues faced daily.
Find the full brief here, originally published on the Access Now website.