Join us for the official launch of a new research report authored by Dr Tomiwa Ilori, an Open Technology Fund Senior ICFP Fellow who was hosted by HURIDOCS, exploring how human rights defenders (HRDs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Senegal, and Zimbabwe are using digital security tools to protect themselves and their work.
Human rights defenders (HRDs) across Africa face increasing digital threats: surveillance, censorship, and cyberattacks. This new research offers grounded insights into how human rights defenders are navigating these challenges, highlighting both obstacles and opportunities for building more inclusive and effective digital security tools.
Read the Executive Summary: Use of digital security tools by human rights defenders in African contexts: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Senegal and Zimbabwe
Event details
Date: Thursday, 24 July 2025
Time: 14:00 WAT | 15:00 CAT | 15:00 SAST | 15:00 CET | 16:00 EAT
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: Zoom
This webinar brings together research findings and the lived experiences of human rights defenders from four African countries to deepen understanding of the digital security challenges they face. Featuring key findings, live reflections with three human rights defenders, the event offers valuable insights into the digital security challenges faced by HRDs across these contexts.
Agenda
Welcome and opening remarks
- Wei Fan
Senior Program Manager, Open Technology Fund - Danna Ingleton
Executive Director, HURIDOCS
Official launch of the report with highlights
- Dr Tomiwa Ilori
Senior Fellow, Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP)
Interactive segment: Reflections from the respondents
- Arséne Tungali (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
- Yeukai Munetsi (Zimbabwe)
- Christina Khabuya (Kenya)
Closing remarks
- Yolanda Boozyen
Director of Development and Communications, HURIDOCS
Moderated by Yolanda Booyzen
Read the joint research report: Use of digital security tools by human rights defenders in African contexts: Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Senegal and Zimbabwe
Use-of-digital-security-tools-by-human-rights-defenders-in-African-contexts