freedom of expression

We all have an interesting relationship with the internet. In many ways, our current relationships with the internet are indicators of the socio-cultural, economic and political contexts that we live and work in. For many women in the east and southern parts of Africa, our relations with the internet are deeply classed, with women living in urban and semi-urban areas having easier and more access…

This year, a group of 45 activists, researchers, academics and techies are meeting again in Malaysia to deepen the discussion around feminism and technology. They will be tweeting on #imagineafeministinternet and we invite you to participate in the conversation by engaging with the hashtag and following @takebackthetech.

The Turkish Telecommunications Directorate (TIB) blocked access to 5 LGBTI websites. While Işık Mater from Alternative Informatics Association (Alternatif Bilişim Derneği) defined LGBTI related websites block as the censorship, according to Kaos GL Association’s Lawyer Hayriye Kara it meant the violation of constitutional rights.

On March 8, International Women’s Day was marked across the world under the theme “Make It Happen.” The OpenNet Africa initiative, which monitors and promotes internet freedom in Africa, participated in a series of online discussions focused on women in the digital sphere.

APC's advocacy for the re-prioritisation of Section J at the 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women asks governments to recognise the critical role that the media and ICT play in both advancing and stifling women's rights. At the same time, it is vital that women's rights activists and organisations examine how ICT affects their work and take up Section J demands.
To that…

I've been trying to interview women and girls for the documentation action that Take Back the Tech! announced. I've found it's more difficult than I anticipated, so I wanted to explore the reasons why because I think they are directly related to the theme of freedom of expression.

How do you challenge existing inequalities by speaking up? When you voice your thoughts, do you face threats and abuse? How is violence used to disrupt solidarity and collective action where you are? How do you fight back? This year's Take Back the Tech! campaign invites you to help us reframe the conversation about violence against women as a violation of our fundamental human right to freedom…

Syrian activist and blogger Razan Ghazzawi and Lebanese activist, blogger and APC's EROTICS project coordinator Nadine Moawad were joined by Kate Kroeger, Executive Director of the Urgent Action Fund and Mary Lawlor, Executive Director of Front Line Defenders for a lively panel on the challenges faced by women human rights defenders and what the international community can do to help.

The website of the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) suffered a complex brute-force attack last Friday, Sept 5. The website that features the work of the IWMF and promotes the empowerment of women journalists worldwide, was defaced and most of its original content destroyed.

People Links is a monthly online gathering hosted by May First/People Link members, for members and open to the public. On 27 March they hosted a discussion on technology-related violence against women and the tensions that exist between combating hate speech and the right to freedom of expression. The discussion featured Erika Smith from the APC Women's Rights Programme (WRP).