Participants of the Digital Rights Asia Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC23) have issued a solidarity statement calling for the greater protection of human rights in the digital age.
The statement, signed by over 100 organisations and individuals, was jointly developed during the DRAPAC23 Assembly held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from May 22 to 26, 2023.
EngageMedia, a nonprofit that promotes digital rights, open and secure technology, and social issue documentary in the Asia-Pacific, convened the week-long event which brought together over 500 participants from broad sectors of civil society to build knowledge, collaborations, and momentum around digital rights.
The statement highlights the increasing threats to digital rights in the region, including:
- A rise in repressive and reactionary governments and policies
- The spread of online misinformation and disinformation
- Corporatisation of resources, including people’s data
- Continuing threats to freedom of expression and access to information, which disproportionately affect already vulnerable and marginalised communities
Recognising the collective effort needed to address these urgent issues, the statement urges all stakeholders, including governments, technology companies, civil society organisations, and individuals, to work together in protecting and promoting digital rights and freedoms for all.
Among other things, the statement calls for the internet to be governed as a public good, for the protection and enjoyment of all human rights online and offline, and for the implementation of rights-based and human-centred policies related to the internet and digital technologies.
“With current and emerging technologies reshaping the digital rights landscape in the region, it’s critical for digital rights advocates and human rights defenders to work together and collectively navigate the shared challenges we face,” said EngageMedia Programme and Advocacy Director Red Tani. “We must explore ways to strengthen regional solidarity and advance our work to build a rights-respecting digital future.”
Read the DRAPAC23 Statement of Solidarity below:
We, the participants of the Digital Rights Asia Pacific Assembly held in Chiang Mai from 22 to 26 May 2023, representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives from 35 countries across the region, have come together to discuss the critical challenges faced by our communities in the context of current and emerging digital technologies and to explore ways to advance our work to build a rights-respecting digital future.
We recognise that the region is at an important crossroads, with the promise of the internet and emerging digital technologies to usher in an inclusive and equitable future on the one hand while millions still remain unconnected; a rise in repressive and reactionary governments and policies; threats to our human rights and fundamental freedoms; silencing of voices through violence and hate; misleading rhetoric and misinformation; corporatisation of resources, including our data; a looming climate crisis and the further marginalisation of already vulnerable communities including but not limited to gender, sexual and religious minorities, people with disabilities, refugees and indigenous peoples.
As stakeholders in the digital rights movement in the region, we call for the internet to be governed as a public good, where all citizens have the means and the right to access a free and open internet and the unrestricted flow of information.
We stand for the protection and enjoyment of all human rights online and offline, including freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information, particularly for those from marginalised communities.
We believe in the implementation of rights-based and human-centred policies related to the internet and digital technologies that put people before profit and politics, and that are developed through an inclusive, multistakeholder process.
We stand in solidarity with each other and those who have been silenced or marginalised, and agree to work in cross-regional unity and collaboration in securing accountability and justice for those harmed.
We celebrate the diversity of voices, perspectives and experiences across the Asia Pacific and champion their right to co-exist free from discrimination, hate and violence.
We urge the broader internet community in the region, including individuals, civil society organisations, independent institutions, businesses and states, to join us in defending our human rights, protecting our environment and working towards a just and equitable society for all.
Signatures (Organisation)
- Access Now
- Active Vista Center Inc
- Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
- ARTICLE 19
- Asia Centre
- Asia Development Alliance
- Association for Progressive Communications
- Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
- Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication
- Biyung Indonesia
- Body and Data
- Break the Fake Movement
- Bulatlat
- Burma VJ Media
- Cambodian Center for Independent Media
- Cambodian Institute for Democracy
- Cambodian Youth Network Association
- Center for Science, Technology, and Society, Chulalongkorn University
- Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community
- Combine Resource Institution
- Common Room Networks Foundation
- Computer Professionals’ Union
- Cooperation Committee for Cambodia
- Digital Defenders Partnership
- DigitalJusticeCN
- Digitally Right
- Doublethink Lab
- Earki.co
- EngageMedia
- Equitable Cambodia
- Exile Hub
- Federal FM
- Filipino Freethinkers
- Forus
- Foundation for Advancing Critical Thinking in South Asia (FACTS)
- Foundation for Media Alternatives
- Free Expression Myanmar (FEM)
- Hashtag Generation
- IM Swedish Development Partner
- Initiative for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), Inc.
- Interlab
- International Media Support (IMS)
- Knowledge for Development
- Law Life Culture
- Legal Aid for Human Rights
- Legal Dignity
- LocalizationLab
- Luminate
- Mahawthada Digital Solution
- Manushya Foundation
- Media Matters for Democracy Pakistan
- Microgovernance Research Initiative
- Myanmar Internet Project
- Open Culture Foundation
- OPTF (Session)
- Point of View
- Polytechnic University of the Philippines
- Public Virtue Research Institute
- Purple Code Collective
- SAFEnet
- School of Public Policy Chiang Mai University
- Security Matters
- Sinar Project
- Solutify Myanmar
- Spring University Myanmar
- Sunflower Film Organization
- Taiwan Association for Human Rights
- Tattle Civic Technologies
- The Asia Foundation
- Thibi
- Tifa Foundation
- Timorese Association for Progressive Information and Technology
- TRACE Indonesia (Fast Response Team)
- Whose Knowledge?
- WITNESS
- YIFoS Indonesia
- Young Experts: Tech for Health
Signatures (Individual)
- Ain Ghazal
- Anton Mujahir
- Ardilla (Yaya) Maisara
- Charisse Joan Cao
- Demie Dangla
- Dharini Priscilla
- Dulanjaya Mahagamage
- EJ Gagui
- Eze Soh
- Faisal Bustamam
- Fernando Ximenes
- Jameekorn Aumnatphook
- Jeebs Unabia
- Jen Tarnate
- Jeyra Morallo
- Jonnah Marie Morado
- Julaluck Punyata
- Kevin Lau
- Khun Win
- King Catoy
- Kristine Camille Sulit
- Krupskaya Valila
- Maharddhika Maharddhika
- Michael Gray
- Minhaj Aman
- Monira Begum Munni
- Muhammad Naziful Haq
- Niken Lestari
- Prapasiri Suttisome
- Red Tani
- Ri Na
- RIzki Estrada
- Salem Maduwa
- Sanjib Chaudhary
- Sara Pacia
- SHIH-TING YOU
- Shoeb Abdullah
- Siti Desyana
- Soe Sandar Oo
- Thanarin Pornpongphanurat
- Thaw Tar Swe
- Thidar Htay
- Vino Lucero
- YI-RU CHEN
- Zana Fauzi
- Zayed Ahmed Siddiki