DDP Asia team will participate in the Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly, next May 22-29.
The DRAPAC’23 Assembly “aims to strengthen solidarity and networks among changemakers, champion diversity and inclusion within the movement, and bridge the media, technology, and human rights fields”. This year, the Assembly will feature over 120 sessions spread out across five days in the city of Chiang Mai, covering a variety of co-created sessions such as panel discussions, workshops, and the regional film showcase Cinemata Big Screen.
Sessions
DDP’s Asia team will participate in three sessions.
Running a Digital Security Helpline
May 22, 2023 (Monday) · Time: 12:15 – 13:30
A digital security helpline is a form of organized approach of providing timely digital and holistic security support to human rights defenders facing threats or blatant attacks in their region. The session dives into the inner workings of running a digital security helpline based on the practices of three organizations that have been in this field for the past years and who operate in their local contexts. Session speakers will talk about the kind of needs and situations they are able to address through the helpline approach, as well as challenges and opportunities faced in the field of rapid response. The session will highlight best practices and available resources that can be of use to small or large organizations who are interested in starting their own digital security helpline.
Speakers
- Farhanah, Digital Defenders Partnership (Facilitator)
- Ellie Glino, Access Now
- Darika, Security Matters
- Eni, Task Force KBGO
Fighting Back Against Digital Attacks: Sharing Experiences of Filing Legal Cases on Digital Attacks against Independent Media & Journalists
May 22, 2023 (Monday) · Time: 15:15 – 16:30
The growing threat of digital attacks against independent media and journalists has stifled free speech across the region. From series of DDoS attacks against independent media websites to increasing spyware targeting journalists, independent media have to deal with sophisticated attacks. This session seeks to understand how to build and file a case of digital attacks against independent media; the challenges faced by lawyers and the lessons learned when they handle such cases. The conversation will present representatives from the National Union of People’s Lawyers (Philippines) and LBH Pers (Indonesia). Both organisations will share their experiences and insights supporting the litigation process of digital attacks against independent media and journalists in their countries. While laws are different in each country, participants can benefit from the overview of such legal process.
Speakers
- Afra Suci Ramadhon, Digital Defenders Partnership (Facilitator)
- Frank Lloyd Tiongson, National Union of People’s Lawyers
- Gema Gita Persada, LBH Pers – Indonesia
Decolonizing Emergency Grants
May 24, 2023 (Wednesday) · Time: 16:00-17:15
The session acknowledges many initiatives of rapid response fund to support resilience on protecting digital rights amidst the rise of digital authoritarianism practices in Asia region and the challenges in current practices. This session will dive in current challenges to distribute the fund in certain countries and explore more the issue of harmonizing requirement of donor project reporting and the needs of beneficiaries accountability. To illustrate, for the most beneficiaries, narrative and financial reporting are challenging due to language barriers, writing and accounting skill, context-related constraints, time availability, etc. in particular during emergency situation. Otherwise, the funders need to looking at integrate and intersectional approach into procedures, and learn how to handle this tension in ways that respect cultural diversity.
Speakers
- Blandina Lintang, Digital Defender Partnership (Facilitator)
- Dignity
- Urgent Action Fund