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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240910T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240930T235959
DTSTAMP:20260622T002050
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UID:10000090-1725926400-1727740799@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:United Nations General Assembly 79th Session (UNGA79)
DESCRIPTION:Venue: United Nations Headquarters & surrounding  New York City area\, New York\, USA (and virtual) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) will start on Tuesday 10 September 2024. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday 24 September 2024 through to Monday 30 September 2024.  \n\n\n\nThis year\, the highly anticipated Summit of the Future will be held during UNGA79 with Summit of the Future Action Days on Friday 20 September and Saturday 21 September\, followed by an official Heads of State and Government summit on Sunday 22 September and Monday 23 September\, 2024. The Summit aims to address “the critical challenges and gaps in global governance exposed by recent global shocks.” The Summit will adopt three agreements: a Pact for the Future\, Global Digital Compact\, and Declaration on Future Generations. Access Now has been actively following the Global Digital Compact process. For more information view our FAQ on the Global Digital Compact.  \n\n\n\nBelow are some of the public events Access Now will be joining at UNGA79 2024. Follow the link below to the official United Nations website for the registration process\, and to confirm time\, date and locations of sessions\, which may change. High-level debates will be livestreamed on UN Web TV. \n\n\n\n\nRegistration details\n\n\n\nAdd To Calendar\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursday 19 September \n\n\n\n\n\nGlobal Digital Compact Civil Society Strategic Discussion Space \n\n\n\nThursday 19 September\, 2024 (08:00 – 12:00 EDT)\, Scandinavian House  \n\n\n\nIn preparation for the finalization of the Global Digital Compact (GDC) this event aims to provide space for civil society organizations to critically discuss the final text and engage in strategic discussion around the implementation and follow-up of the GDC. This is an opportunity to align agendas on cross-cutting progressive issues and coordinate efforts across regions and themes. \n\n\n\nThe side event is coordinated by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)\, IT for Change\, Equality Now\, Alliance for Universal Digital Rights (AUDRi)\, Women at the Table/ <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms\, Pollicy\, Derechos Digitales\, Women Rights Online\, UN Women and UNFPA.  \n\n\n\nThe side event will be held in English.  \n\n\n\n\nRegister here to attend in person\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSaturday 21 September\n\n\n\n\n\nA Digital Future For All  \n\n\n\nSaturday 21 September\, 2024 (10:30-17:00 EDT)\, United Nations Headquarters ECOSOC Chamber \n\n\n\nThis full day session is co-convened by the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology (OSET)\, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)\, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and “will bring forward-looking commitments from all stakeholders to harness innovation\, science and data in a more inclusive\, safe and sustainable manner” as part of the digital track of the Summit of the Future. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Power of the Commons: Digital Public Goods for a More Secure\, Inclusive\, and Resilient World \n\n\n\nSaturday 21 September\, 2024 (11:15-12:30 EDT)\, United Nations Headquarters Conference Room 2  \n\n\n\nThe Pact for the Future and Global Digital Compact offer an important opportunity to ensure that Digital Public Goods (DPGs) and Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are able to shape our digital world for the public good. This event will spotlight success stories and explore how DPGs and DPIs can ensure that people around the world have a say in how technology is developed and governed\, bridge digital divides\, empower communities\, and advance Sustainable Development Goals. The event will also tackle governance challenges and map a path toward a globally inclusive digital future.  \n\n\n\nThis side event is co-sponsored by the UN Member State Delegations of Mexico\, Poland\, and Germany\, as well as the organizations Access Now (featuring Marianne Díaz Hernández as speaker)\, TUM Think Tank\, Network of Centers\, Wikimedia Deutschland\, Wikimedia Czech Republic\, and Wikimedia Europe. \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Critical Role of Human Rights in Realizing the Pact for the Future  \n\n\n\nSaturday 21 September\, 2024 (13:00-14:15 EDT)\, United Nations Headquarters Conference Room 2  \n\n\n\nThis side event will discuss the value of human rights in achieving sustainable development\, peace\, and security\, and in ensuring the effective enjoyment of all human rights by all. It will showcase concrete applications of human rights as a bridge-builder between the people and the institutions of the State in a range of areas\, including addressing inequalities\, tackling discrimination\, and confronting new and emerging challenges. \n\n\n\nThis side event is co-organized by the UN Human Rights Office\, Costa Rica\, South Africa\, the European Union\, Action for Sustainable Development\, and CIVICUS. Further information\, including the Concept Note of the event\, will be shared in due course and posted on the OHCHR website. \n\n\n\n\n\nMonday 23 September\n\n\n\n\n\nWar\, famine\, and satellites: Connecting the dots of the humanitarian impact of shutdowns in Sudan \n\n\n\nMonday 23 September\, 2024 (10:00-11:00 EDT)\, Access Now Office (and virtual)  \n\n\n\nA preventable\, human-caused famine is unfolding in Sudan\, and internet shutdowns are playing a direct role. With peace negotiations failing\, humanitarian access efforts center on getting food into territories controlled by warring parties. With this event\, we aim to supplement those crucial negotiations by exploring telecommunications and the role of digital connectivity in advancing peace and humanitarian access.  \n\n\n\nThis expert discussion session alongside UNGA 79 would highlight the work of GISA\, presenting findings from their briefing “Digital Lifelines: How Internet Connectivity Enables Vital Aid in Sudan.” The report is the result of the Sudan Crisis Response project\, launched to enhance communication resilience for local humanitarian actors\, journalists\, and human rights defenders\, and also tested a variety of connectivity solutions including low earth orbit satellites (LEOs). \n\n\n\n\nWatch here\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWednesday 25 September \n\n\n\n\n\nForeign Policy Tech Forum: Accelerating Global Connectivity and Progress Toward the SDGs  \n\n\n\nWednesday 25 September\, 2024 (08:30 – 10:30 EDT)\, Rockefeller Plaza and Virtual  \n\n\n\nAs emerging technologies reshape global dynamics\, policymakers are tasked with developing robust frameworks that can keep pace\, ensuring that innovation and technology advance the public good. They\, along with industry\, finance\, development\, and civil society\, must navigate the complexities of supporting equitable growth\, managing evolving threats\, and addressing critical issues such as AI ethics\, digital sovereignty\, cybersecurity\, biosecurity\, and more.   \n\n\n\nThis year’s forum will explore how advanced technologies can foster greater connectivity and prosperity\, emphasizing the crucial role of science\, biotech\, technology\, and innovation (STI) within the UN framework. Through a series of panel discussions and one-on-one conversations\, the FP Tech Forum @ UNGA79 will take a candid look at the state of technology\, increasing global fragmentation\, and the steps necessary to mitigate risks and leverage technology for material progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. \n\n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/unga79/
LOCATION:United Nations Headquarters
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UNpanoramaposthead.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240923T110000
DTSTAMP:20260622T002050
CREATED:20240916T184631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250117T145930Z
UID:10000092-1727085600-1727089200@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:War\, famine\, and satellites: Connecting the dots of the humanitarian impact of shutdowns in Sudan
DESCRIPTION:Venue: Access Now office – 54 W. 21st Street\, Suite 404\, New York 10010. Nearest subway: F  Train stops at 23rd and 6th Avenue (and virtual on YouTube) \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\n\nMosaab Baba\, Editor\, Ayin\n\n\n\nShayna Lewis\, Senior Advisor and Sudan Specialist\, PAEMA\n\n\n\nMoneim Adam\, Program Director\, Sudan Human Rights Hub (SHRH)\n\n\n\nKholood Khair\, Founding Director\, Confluence Advisory\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRemote participants: \n\n\n\n\nKhattab Hamad\, Digital rights activist\n\n\n\nRawh Nasir\, Researcher\n\n\n\nJawhara Kanu\, Political economy analyst\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nModerator: \n\n\n\n\n Aymen Zaghdoudi\, MENA Senior Policy Counsel\, Access Now\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nInterventions from the floor:  \n\n\n\n\nTom Rhodes\, Managing Editor\, Ayin\n\n\n\nKassem Mnejja\, MENA Campaigner\,  Access Now\n\n\n\nPeter Micek\, General Counsel and UN Policy Manager\, Access Now\n\n\n\nTrevor Snapp\, Executive Director\, Gisa Group\n\n\n\n\n\n\nInternet shutdowns are playing a direct role in the  preventable\, human-caused famine in Sudan\, where faltering peace negotiations and humanitarian efforts struggle to bring some relief to populations living in areas disputed by warring parties. With this event\, we aim to supplement those crucial negotiations by exploring telecommunications and the role of digital connectivity in advancing peace and humanitarian access.  \n\n\n\nThis discussion alongside UNGA 79 is led by experts from leading platforms\, research\, and advocacy organizations at the forefront of digital human rights\, access to knowledge\, and humanitarian response online in Sudan and beyond\, including those looking at the role of low-earth orbit satellites (LEO) internet providers like Starlink.  \n\n\n\nGISA group will present findings from their briefing Digital Lifelines: How Internet Connectivity Enables Vital Aid in Sudan. The report is the result of the Sudan Crisis Response project\, launched to enhance communication resilience for local humanitarian actors\, journalists\, and human rights defenders\, and also tested a variety of connectivity solutions\, including LEOs.  \n\n\n\nAccess Now will present the #KeepItOn coalition’s most recent report\, Shrinking democracy\, growing violence: internet shutdowns in 2023\, using data on shutdowns in Sudan collected by the coalition\, together with case studies and testimonies shared by people in Sudan to demonstrate the humanitarian impact of shutdowns.  \n\n\n\nInviting participants to join the discussion live\, the panel of experts will focus on the effects of shutdowns on vulnerable communities in conflict areas\, how civil society\, communities\, and people are fighting back\, and what the international community must do to change this situation\, covering: \n\n\n\n\nGISA findings from the Sudan Crisis Response project\n\n\n\n#KeepItOn report highlights and campaign actions against internet shutdowns in Sudan\n\n\n\nFraming the humanitarian impact of shutdowns\, and challenges to accountability within the existing legal and regulatory frameworks\n\n\n\nDigital security tips and tools\n\n\n\n\nFurthermore\, the experts will propose a set of concrete and actionable recommendations for stakeholders to address the ongoing situation.  \n\n\n\nEvent goals: \n\n\n\nWe will offer actionable opportunities for participants\, including: \n\n\n\n\nto strengthen their digital security and data privacy practices\, while engaging more safely in online platforms and services \n\n\n\nto support locally-led responses to the challenges posed by shutdowns in conflict\n\n\n\nto engage in ongoing workstreams at the United Nations\, including the further promotion of digital access and connectivity related issues in UNGA resolutions\, and the improvement of UNSC digital language overall\n\n\n\nto join the fight against internet shutdowns in the #KeepItOn movement and beyond\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWatch the event discussion
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/unga79-sudan/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/UNGA79-impact-shutdowns-Sudan-1.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Dakar:20240925T090000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Dakar:20240927T180000
DTSTAMP:20260622T002050
CREATED:20240919T135831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240924T113336Z
UID:10000093-1727254800-1727460000@www.accessnow.org
SUMMARY:Access Now at the 11th edition of CIPESA’s FIFAfrica
DESCRIPTION:Radisson Blu Hotel\, Dakar Sea Plaza in Dakar\, Senegal \n\n\n\n\n\nThe Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)\, in partnership with Dakar-based AfricTivistes\, will host the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa 2024 (FIFAfrica24) set to take place on September 25-27\, 2024 in Senegal. \n\n\n\nOver the past decade\, the FIFAfrica conference has provided a space and garnered a track record of bringing together multi-stakeholder actors and shared efforts aimed at advancing rights\, freedoms\, participation\, and innovation in the digital sphere.  \n\n\n\nHosting the 11th edition of FIFAfrica in Senegal provides an avenue for civil society actors to engage with the current Senegalese government as well as other relevant actors in improving the human rights landscape in the country while exploring ways to advance digital rights in the country.  \n\n\n\nSenegal saw a deterioration of human rights in the last couple of years with increased reports of attacks on press freedom\, a crackdown on opposition voices\, both online and off\, and the arbitrary arrest and detention of protesters in the lead up to the country’s elections. In 2023\, Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition recorded four incidents of shutdowns in a government attempt to muzzle free speech\, control the flow of information\, and crack down on anti-government protests in the country.  \n\n\n\nAccess Now is a key partner of CIPESA and continues to actively participate in FIFAfrica to strengthen our partnership and expand our network within Africa and beyond. In view of this\, we are happy to be hosting and participating in this year’s FIFAfrica.   \n\n\n\nBelow are some of the events Access Now staff will be hosting or participating in at FIFAfrica24.  \n\n\n\nFor those who cannot join in person\, you can follow the hashtag #FIFAfrica24 on social media for details about how to engage virtually. \n\n\n\nCheck out the official website for more information about the event. \n\n\n\n\nRegistration details\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursday and Friday\, September 26 – 27\, 2024\n\n\n\n\n\nDigital Security Clinic | Access Now\, CIPESA\, Defenders Protection Initiative (DPI)\, Internews Network Zambia\, 09:00 – 17:00 UTC \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccess Now’s exhibition booth\, 09:00 – 17:00 UTC at the Exhibition Center \n\n\n\n\nThursday\, September 26\, 2024\n\n\n\n\n\nBenchmarking AI regulations – Assessing Sub-Saharan Africa’s alignment with international norms | CIPIT\, Thomson Reuters Foundation and MISA Zimbabwe\, 11:30-13:00 UTC at Adansonia \n\n\n\n\n\nCIPESA and Access Now FIFAfrica24 Cocktail event \n\n\n\n\nFriday\, September 27\, 2024\n\n\n\n\nBeyond staying or going: Sudan’s insights on the future of digital rights in conflict zones\, 14:00 – 15:30 UTC at Mermoz
URL:https://www.accessnow.org/event/access-now-at-fifafrica-2024/
LOCATION:United Nations Headquarters
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.accessnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FIFAfrica24.jpg
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