Session
Organizer 1: Bridgette Ndlovu, Paradigm Initiative
Speaker 1: Ucciferri Leandro , Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: 'Gbenga Sesan, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Khadijah El-Usman, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: 'Gbenga Sesan, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Khadijah El-Usman, Civil Society, African Group
Moderator
Bridgette Ndlovu, Civil Society, African Group
Online Moderator
Ihueze Nwobilor, Civil Society, African Group
Rapporteur
Bridgette Ndlovu, Civil Society, African Group
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The layout encourages direct communication, as attendees will interact as equals, eliminating any hierarchy. The format prioritises discussion, collaboration, and in-depth exploration of the proposed topic and allows attendees to share ideas and refine processes. The duration is appropriate, as it encourages discussion, debate meaningful collaboration without either rushing or overstretching. The timing is appropriate as it allows for in-depth exploration of the topic during which participants will discuss specific nuances, consider different perspectives, and potential solutions.
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The layout encourages direct communication, as attendees will interact as equals, eliminating any hierarchy. The format prioritises discussion, collaboration, and in-depth exploration of the proposed topic and allows attendees to share ideas and refine processes. The duration is appropriate, as it encourages discussion, debate meaningful collaboration without either rushing or overstretching. The timing is appropriate as it allows for in-depth exploration of the topic during which participants will discuss specific nuances, consider different perspectives, and potential solutions.
Policy Question(s)
How effectively do these indices influence policy and practice?
What are the strengths and limitations of different ranking methodologies?
How can these indexes be used to bring about tangible policy outcomes in digital rights?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain knowledge that will empower them to use the Score Index to assess their countries, including those that have not been reported in the Londa report.
Participants will be empowered with resources (in the form of indexes) to advocate for improved policy formulation and implementation within specific countries.
Participants will identify specific gaps that need to be addressed and will be empowered to identify low-hanging fruits for implementing the GDC.
Description:
The session will examine the broader impact of ranking indexes, discussing how tools such as Paradigm Initiative’s new ranking Index, the Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) methodology and Freedom House Freedom on the Net Index drive positive change. The session fosters dialogue on best practices and analyses the extent to which ranking indexes promote tangible improvements in digital rights compliance. The session highlights how regional ranking systems benchmarked against regional instruments incorporate indicators that reflect regional practices, context and lived experiences, providing an assessment of the situation on the ground. The session establishes how digital rights stakeholders can utilise findings from research products to ensure the implementation of global policies such as the Global Digital Compact at international, regional and national levels. This session discusses the trends and findings from three digital rights reports, including Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa Report (Londa), unveiling a new ranking Index that digital rights actors can use to assess African countries' compliance with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights' Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information. The index aids digital rights actors in analysing national digital rights and inclusion legislation, policies and practices within 27 African countries, monitoring their compliance with freedom of expression and access to information standards. The session will argue that countries globally should implement the Global Digital Compact to address the digital rights threats and widening divide unearthed by the three indexes. It will also document feedback from attendees and integrate comments to refine the indexes.
The session will examine the broader impact of ranking indexes, discussing how tools such as Paradigm Initiative’s new ranking Index, the Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) methodology and Freedom House Freedom on the Net Index drive positive change. The session fosters dialogue on best practices and analyses the extent to which ranking indexes promote tangible improvements in digital rights compliance. The session highlights how regional ranking systems benchmarked against regional instruments incorporate indicators that reflect regional practices, context and lived experiences, providing an assessment of the situation on the ground. The session establishes how digital rights stakeholders can utilise findings from research products to ensure the implementation of global policies such as the Global Digital Compact at international, regional and national levels. This session discusses the trends and findings from three digital rights reports, including Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights and Inclusion in Africa Report (Londa), unveiling a new ranking Index that digital rights actors can use to assess African countries' compliance with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights' Declaration on Principles of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information. The index aids digital rights actors in analysing national digital rights and inclusion legislation, policies and practices within 27 African countries, monitoring their compliance with freedom of expression and access to information standards. The session will argue that countries globally should implement the Global Digital Compact to address the digital rights threats and widening divide unearthed by the three indexes. It will also document feedback from attendees and integrate comments to refine the indexes.
Expected Outcomes
Digital rights actors with knowledge and capacity to assess their countries’ digital rights compliance using the three indexes.
Findings of the research provide more granular information and developments, that global indexes may overlook, for a deeper understanding of variations within the region.
Digital rights actors advocate for improved policy formulation and implementation within specific countries.
Digital Rights actors join forces to implement the Global Digital Compact to address identified digital rights threats and divides.
Hybrid Format: The session will allow online attendees to submit questions through the platform. Speakers will address the questions promptly as they come through. The session will utilise interactive polling tools such as Mentimeter and Miro board to get real-time feedback and contributions on the discussions. The event will also be live-streamed to ensure that online attendees can join in and contribute, ensuring high-quality audio and video. The event will have live Q&A functionality. The session will document feedback from attendees and integrate comments to refine the indexes. It will also produce an output outlining how stakeholders can use the indexes and report findings can be used to follow up on the implementation of the Global Digital Compact. The output will be disseminated online to keep attendees engaged after the IGF.