Closer than ever

APC understands that we are all dealing with unprecedented circumstances as we face the challenges, fear and uncertainty brought on by the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We know it impacts our work, our personal lives and the lives of those we care about. Each country is tackling the situation differently, so the contexts we find ourselves in are as diverse as the ways we find to navigate shifting conditions.

In these exceptional times, we wish to send our solidarity and appreciation for connecting with us. While we are distancing ourselves physically, we continue to stay closer than ever to each other and share tools and resources as well as support. We also want to examine how we can continue to promote human rights online in the context of a global pandemic. We are all facing this problem together but we know it affects different countries and communities in different ways. Therefore, we would like to channel the strength of our network to share some important resources that we hope will be empowering, enlightening and reassuring.

Below you will find articles and insights shared by our community, which has been working on human rights and technology issues for over 30 years. We will be updating these lists on a regular basis, so please feel free to connect with us if you have some resources to share.

 

 

Open Culture Foundation at RightsCon 2020
Open Culture Foundation at RightsCon 2020 18 August 2020 Open Culture Foundation

APC member organisation the Open Culture Foundation (OCF), based in Taiwan, reflects upon their experience at RightsCon 2020, which this year took place online.

Precarious future for returnees coming back to Manipur
Precarious future for returnees coming back to Manipur 13 August 2020 Ninglun Hanghal for GenderIT.org

More than 45,000 people have registered to return to their home state Manipur, and many are women nurses who faced discrimination and harassment while they were doing their jobs in mainland India. Returnees now face a precarious future regarding where they live, their jobs and their future.

#IWantALetter: Take action to demand that Egyptian authorities provide information updates on their response to the pandemic in prisons
#IWantALetter: Take action to demand that Egyptian authorities provide information updates on their response to the pandemic in prisons 12 August 2020

Family members and lawyers have a right to communicate with their loved ones and clients at all times, but particularly during a pandemic. The public also has a right to information on measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 inside prisons. These are the reasons behind the #IWantALetter campaign.

My sextortion birthday: Digital violence during COVID-19
My sextortion birthday: Digital violence during COVID-19 12 August 2020 Christina Elia for GenderIT.org

The lockdown raises questions around digital security and safety. From online conferences being hacked to individual women targeted for extortion, there is a lot happening. In this personal essay, one woman navigates sextortion through expression, art and fantasy.

Webcomic: The internet's footprint
Webcomic: The internet's footprint 06 August 2020 Nadège for GenderIT.org

We often hear that the internet is a cloud. But the internet has a big footprint. With this first release we start a reflective webcomic series around internet's infrastructure from a feminist technopolitical perspective.

COVID-19 or the necropolitics of lockdown: Who cares about trans bodies?
COVID-19 or the necropolitics of lockdown: Who cares about trans bodies? 06 August 2020 Kira Xonorika for GenderIT.org

Kira Xonorika exposes the absence of public policies for trans people in Paraguay during the lockdown by COVID-19 and denounces the serious social consequences of corporeal colonialism that pathologises gender diversity.

COVID-19 is leaving women and LGBTQIA+ people in the USA vulnerable to online surveillance
COVID-19 is leaving women and LGBTQIA+ people in the USA vulnerable to online surveillance 06 August 2020 Nia Tucker for GenderIT.org

Essential workers and service workers in the United States, especially those in the LGBTQIA+ community, are increasingly more vulnerable at the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are at risk of losing employment benefits, and are subject to discrimination and surveillance at work.

REG4COVID: Community network responses to the pandemic
REG4COVID: Community network responses to the pandemic 04 August 2020 Marta Kopp

As a part of the ITU's pandemic response, the platform REG4COVID was launched, providing a space for regulators and civil society to share their own initiatives. APC asked their community network partners to contribute to the platform, given the general absence of civil society input.

Domestic abuse during COVID-19 includes financial and online abuse
Domestic abuse during COVID-19 includes financial and online abuse 29 July 2020 Halley Bondy for GenderIT.org

There are increasing rates of domestic violence and abuse during the COVID-19 lockdowns imposed in different countries. This violence includes abuse that relies on online means and includes financial abuse and exploitation, which particularly harm the independence of those who are the targets.

Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council
Joint statement welcomes the gains in advancing the rights of women and girls at the 44th session of the Human Rights Council 28 July 2020 Sexual Rights Initiative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Choice for Youth and Sexuality, Association of Women’s Rights in Development and Association for Progressive Communications

This joint statement welcomes the resolution on elimination of discrimination against women and girls adopted at this HRC session, which focuses on multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination faced by women and girls and the measures states should take to address the same issues.

« Go back