Tag: United Nations

In the context of COVID-19 and a wave of protests across the globe, the U.N. Human Rights Council held its 44th session. Here’s our read-out on the reports and resolutions that are key for defending digital rights around the world.

As the 44th session of the Human Rights Council kicks off amid a pandemic and mass protests, we’re closely monitoring action on the issues impacting digital rights globally.

What role can the United Nations play in shaping the future of digital rights? A new Roadmap for Digital Cooperation aims to galvanize efforts to “connect, respect, and protect people in the digital age.” Will it work?

Access Now is engaging with the UNHCR to support refugees deliberately disconnected from the internet as COVID-19 continues to spread.

Access Now and international partners are urging the United Nations to make partnerships like the one with Tencent transparent and undertake due diligence to assess the human rights impact and put necessary protections in place.

At a meeting of the United Nations OEWG on global cybersecurity, we advocated for approaches to put users at the center of cybersecurity policy and safeguard human rights.

Access Now joined 15 other organizations to review the outcomes of UNGA74, including the critical importance of civil society engagement.

At the United Nations OEWG meetings, we highlighted the increase in cyber attacks for surveillance and the global epidemic of internet shutdowns, both of which threaten the ability to use the internet securely.

The method Iran used to carry out the shutdown diverges from a “typical” blanket shutdown and its comprehensive nature makes it harder to circumvent.

Governments should pay attention to the call of the United Nations’ leading expert on poverty to fully integrate human rights protections into their efforts to digitize and automate welfare benefits and services.