The call for session ideas and fellowship applications for the 2026 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC26) is officially open! 

Join us from June 8 to 10, 2026 in Manila, Philippines as we embrace the Filipino concept of Bayanihan (from the rootword “bayan” meaning community or nation) and its spirit of mutual support, collective action, and shared responsibility towards a common goal. DRAPAC26 channels the spirit of bayanihan – traditionally depicted with farmers together carrying houses to safer ground – to navigate shifting dynamics, by co-creating, co-developing, and co-owning the common resources and infrastructure the digital rights movement needs to thrive.

The DRAPAC26 organising team is now accepting session proposals to populate the assembly’s three days. The deadline for submitting both session proposals and fellowship applications is at 11.59pm (UTC+8) on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Selected sessions and fellowships will be announced by late April 2026.

Submit your session proposals for DRAPAC26

The first two days (June 8 and 9) will host plenaries, panel discussions, workshops, tech and report showcases, and more session formats. 

Track 1: Co-creating collective common resources

Civil society is navigating shrinking resources, shifting political landscapes, and evolving forms of digital repression. The path forward means building shared infrastructure that strengthens the digital rights movement across the region, infrastructure we can all contribute to, adapt, and scale.

We’re looking for sessions that develop tangible infrastructure like platforms, databases, and systems, alongside intangible resources like skills, knowledge, networks, support system, and strategies. Show us how these resources can work across different contexts and movements.

This includes:

• Innovative initiatives that can become shared regional infrastructure
• Lessons from past and ongoing projects addressing movement resilience
• Approaches to localising and updating existing collective resources
• Creative solutions for sustainability and collective care

Track 2: Taking collaborative action across movements

As digital technologies embed more deeply into governance systems and lived realities, civil society now more than ever needs to work across movements and with other sectors to confront intersectional challenges. This track focuses on bridging civil society with governments and the private sector to co-develop rights-based digital governance frameworks. We’re building on DRAPAC25’s work on policy influence and looking for sessions that move from dialogue to action.

Your proposals should focus on:

• Concrete action plans that respond to new world orders
• Substantive dialogue between rights defenders and other stakeholders
• Policy frameworks that centre human rights in digital governance

Day 3: Thematic workshops on co-creating shared infrastructure

Organisations will lead day-long workshops focused on Track 1, or on co-creating shared infrastructure and collective resources in specific thematic areas.
Submit your session ideas at https://drap.ac/26/activities/ before 11.59pm (UTC+8) on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

Fellowship support available

We’re committed to supporting the participation of human rights defenders from marginalised backgrounds and intersecting identities. The fellowship covers flights to Manila, accommodation, travel insurance, and related costs. Due to limited resources, priority will be given to applicants who are speakers, panellists, or organising selected sessions. 

Please note: Fellowship applications are separate from session proposals. A successful fellowship does not guarantee that your submitted session proposal is accepted, and vice versa. You’ll need to submit two separate applications if you’re proposing a session and are also in need of financial support to attend the assembly. 

Submit your fellowship application at https://drap.ac/26/fellows by March 22, 2026, at 11.59pm (UTC+8).

Got questions?

For any inquiries about the session proposals , please reach out to us at [email protected] or via Signal at @drapac.26.