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Marwa Fatafta

MENA Policy and Advocacy Director

Marwa leads Access Now’s policy and advocacy work on digital rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Her work spans a number of issues at the nexus of human rights and technology including content governance and platform accountability, online censorship, digital surveillance, and transnational repression. She has written extensively on the digital occupation in Palestine and focuses on the role of new technologies in armed conflicts and humanitarian contexts and their impact on historically marginalized and oppressed communities. Marwa is a Policy Analyst at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, an advisory board member of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and an advisory committee member for Bread&Net. Marwa was a Fulbright scholar in the US and holds an MA in International Relations from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. She holds a second MA in Development and Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Digital violence in MENA : impunity and internet shutdowns in 2024

23 Feb 2025

Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition’s new report reveals that 41 shutdowns were imposed in 17 countries across the MENA region in 2024.

Press Release
Digital violence in MENA : impunity and internet shutdowns in 2024
23 Feb 2025
Digital violence in MENA : impunity and internet shutdowns in 2024
Ghana’s anti-LGBTQ+ bill

Our rights are at stake: it’s time to reclaim freedom of expression

21 Feb 2025

Given the escalating use of free speech claims as a shield for inciting hatred and violence, it is more urgent than ever to reaffirm what freedom of expression truly stands for.

Press Release
Our rights are at stake: it’s time to reclaim freedom of expression
21 Feb 2025
Our rights are at stake: it’s time to reclaim freedom of expression
Syria sanctions

Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery

30 Jan 2025

Access Now joins the American Coalition for Syria, and over 160 civil society organizations in urging the U.S. government to expand sanctions relief in Syria.

Press Release
Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery
30 Jan 2025
Access Now demands U.S. lift sanctions blocking Syria’s digital recovery
ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice

Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice

20 Jan 2025

As physical violence appears to be coming to a halt after 15 months in Gaza, Access Now further calls for a digital ceasefire.

Press Release
Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice
20 Jan 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza: it’s time to end digital harms and deliver justice
Palestinian Authority

The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom

9 Jan 2025

The Palestinian Authority must reverse its decision to block Al Jazeera websites and lift the suspension of its operations in the West Bank.

Press Release
The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom
9 Jan 2025
The Palestinian Authority must stop silencing Al Jazeera and end its attacks on press freedom
UK government Alaa

Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa

20 Dec 2024

The undersigned human rights organizations call on the UK government to take immediate action to free Alaa, and save his mother’s life.

Press Release
Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa
20 Dec 2024
Open letter: the UK government must act now to free Alaa
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024: when digital rights collide with digital oppression

بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت

12 Dec 2024

منظمات حقوق الإنسان المُوقّعة أدناه، نحثّ حكومة السعودية على إطلاق سراح جميع المعتقلين الذين اعتقلتهم السلطات السعودية بسبب تعبيرهم عن آرائهم على الإنترنت

Press Release
بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
12 Dec 2024
بيان مُشترك: المجتمع المدني يُطالب باتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة قبيل انعقاد منتدى حوكمة الإنترنت
Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2024: when digital rights collide with digital oppression

Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum

12 Dec 2024

Civil society urges the government of Saudi Arabia to release people imprisoned for their online expression and foster transparency and accountability ahead of IGF 2024.

Press Release
Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum
12 Dec 2024
Joint statement: civil society demands action ahead of Internet Governance Forum
ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice

Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice

21 Nov 2024
Press Release
Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
21 Nov 2024
Know your customer: ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders put Big Tech on notice
Palestine Israel Digital Ceasefire; Gaza’s internet

Toward a digital ceasefire

20 Nov 2024

The ascent of cyber warfare is weaponizing our digital world; it’s time to embrace the concept of “digital ceasefire.”

Post
Toward a digital ceasefire
20 Nov 2024
Toward a digital ceasefire