Paradigm Initiative promotes digital rights in Africa

Digital rights and inclusion advocacy group Paradigm Initiative says it is working to create a digital environment where technology enhances human rights and empowers underserved communities.

The executive director of the nonprofit organisation, Gbenga Sesan, shared this vision recently in Lagos.

Sesan explained that the organisation focuses on leveraging its strengths, addressing weaknesses, and navigating emerging challenges in the digital rights landscape.

“We believe empowering underserved communities through digital rights and ensuring access to skills, resources, and opportunities will improve socio-economic outcomes,” he said.

Sesan noted that over the past decade, Paradigm Initiative has collaborated with major funders such as the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Omidyar Network, Open Society Foundations, Google.org, the Government of the Netherlands, and the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour.

These partnerships have supported the implementation of multi-country initiatives aimed at advancing digital inclusion across Africa.

The executive director highlighted the organisation’s annual Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum, which has convened internet freedom activists since 2013.

The event, held annually in both English and French, attracts at least 500 stakeholders.

“DRIF empowers participants to address gaps and challenges in their communities while fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing,” he added.

The organisation has also made significant strides in policy advocacy.

Sesan said the Paradigm Initiative played a key role in drafting Africa’s first digital rights law, the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which were passed by the House of Representatives and  Senate in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

He noted that this legislation has inspired similar efforts in Malawi, Tanzania, and Somalia.

“We have supported parliamentarians in Malawi, South Sudan, and Tanzania in enacting robust data protection laws,” Sesan stated.

He also pointed to strategic litigation victories, including court rulings addressing issues with Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Twitter ban, which set important legal precedents for digital rights.

Sesan concluded by emphasising the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including the media, to drive systemic change.

“The work we do can lead to broader societal change by protecting digital rights and ensuring inclusion,” he said.