The community of the African School on Internet Governance (AfriSIG) has lost a mentor and trainer following the death of faculty member Makane Faye in a road traffic accident in Senegal on Friday, 26 March 2021, while he was travelling to Dakar from the holy city of Touba.
Welcome to the 34th monthly round-up of developments impacting your local access networks.
EngageMedia spoke with Thinzar Shunlei Yi, a prominent pro-democracy activist in Myanmar, to find out more about how the military is using technology against protesters, and what kinds of support Myanmar civil society needs to continue their fight for democracy.
![Connecting the Unconnected: Supporting community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20210401171842im_/https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/styles/350x350/public/CNimage_0.jpg?itok=29zc76s7)
This project will contribute to an enabling ecosystem for the emergence and growth of community networks and other community-based connectivity initiatives in developing countries. It is part of a multi-year, multi-donor strategy envisaged to address the human capacity and sustainability challenges, along with the policy and regulatory obstacles, that limit the growth of community-based connectivity initiatives.
![Challenging hate narratives and violations of freedom of religion and expression online in Asia](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20210401171842im_/https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/styles/350x350/public/8331169181_979770c9cc_o_1.jpg?itok=aGQGaWuy)
This project seeks to protect and promote respect for freedom of religion and expression on the internet, particularly by countering hate speech online on the basis of religion, and generating narratives and discourse that defend secular and diverse opinions touching upon religion. The three-year project focuses on five countries in South and Southeast Asia: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan.
![FIRN: Feminist Internet Research Network](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20210401171842im_/https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/styles/350x350/public/IDRC-twitter_0.png?itok=b_x9d8nL)
The Feminist Internet Research Network is a three-and-a-half-year collaborative and multidisciplinary research project led by APC, funded by the International Development Research Centre. The project draws on the study “Mapping research in gender and digital technology”, and the Feminist Principles of the Internet collectively crafted by feminists and activists, primarily located in the global South.
Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) is an annual report co-produced by the APC network and partners, which looks at the progress being made in creating an inclusive information society worldwide (particularly in implementing WSIS goals), encourages critical debate, and strengthens networking and advocacy for a just, inclusive information society.
Daiane Araujo dos Santos discusses the link between popular education and community networks, and argues that class, race and gender should be part of the analysis in the implementation of autonomous infrastructure and technical training dedicated to digitally excluded communities.
This week’s blog’s a ‘sneak peek’ of the chapter I’ve written for this year’s Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) report by APC. It’s an overview of the main issues around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the environment and the digital society. GISWatch will be published shortly.
In this #BreadandNet 2020 session, Sacha Robehmed from the International Rescue Committee (IRC) discusses the role of online platforms in connecting organisations to individuals, while maintaining online privacy and security.
Columns
![](/web/20210401171842im_/https://www.apc.org/sites/default/files/images/david-souter.jpg)
David Souter writes a weekly column for APC, looking at different aspects of the information society, development and rights. David’s pieces take a fresh look at many of the issues that concern APC and its members, with the aim of provoking discussion and debate. Issues covered include internet governance and sustainable development, human rights and the environment, policy, practice and the use of ICTs by individuals and communities.
Over a dozen global organisations, including APC, have created a historical document containing urgent measures for the protection of women human rights defenders (WHRDs).
The 2020 edition of Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) will be launching soon! In anticipation, you can now read a selection of full-length reports in the GISWatch 2020 Sneak Peek!
The IGF is a key platform for identifying viable ways to shape, sustain and strengthen global digital cooperation, by mobilising collective intelligence and the potential of multistakeholder collaboration and action to respond to the persistent and emerging challenges in the digital age.
As well as requirements such as commitment to the universal application of human rights, relevant experience, competence, independence and personal integrity, any individual considered for this mandate should also be well positioned to address the gendered dimensions of privacy.
In the Roadmap on Digital Cooperation launched in 2020, the UN Secretary General proposes reforms to promote the strengthening of the Internet Governance Forum, so that it could become "more responsive and relevant to current digital issues."
Free/libre and open-source software (FLOSS) offers us the possibility of escaping from an imposed “reality”: that we need to pay for access to certain proprietary software tools. Código Sur shares an overview of various FLOSS alternatives for different types of graphic design and layout work.
After two years of negotiations, the UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security has adopted its final report. Here, APC presents its positions on the most salient points of the report.
APC welcomes the opportunity to engage in this session. We appreciate Ambassador Lauber’s openness to civil society and the OEWG’s willingness to receive and consider comments by non-state actors.