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Press Release

Jun 25
0

Paradigm Initiative salue la décision historique de la cour de justice de la CEDEAO sur les coupures d’Internet au Togo

By | Internet Freedom, Press Release

Abuja, Nigeria. – [25 juin 2020] –  Ce jeudi 25 juin 2020, Paradigm Initiative se joint à d’autres organisations de la société civile pour célébrer une décision historique de  la Cour de justice de la Communauté économique des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CEDEAO).

Le tribunal sous-régional a jugé que les restrictions de l’accès à Internet, qui ont eu lieu du 5 au 10 septembre et de nouveau du 19 au 21 septembre 2017, étaient illégales et portaient atteinte au droit des requérants à la liberté d’expression.

Le tribunal a ordonné au gouvernement togolais de verser deux millions de francs CFA aux plaignants à titre d’indemnisation et de prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour garantir la mise en œuvre des garanties relatives au droit à la liberté d’expression du peuple togolais.

« Il s’agit d’un jugement historique qui enverra un signal fort à l’ensemble du continent, et aux régimes autoritaires en particulier, pour repenser d’avantages les arguments qu’ils évoquent pour perturber de façons abusives et illégales le réseau internet », a déclaré Emmanuel Vitus, responsable des communications de Paradigm Initiative.

Il a ajouté : « la décision du tribunal a des implications beaucoup plus profondes pour l’avenir de la liberté en ligne au Togo. C’est un moment historique et très important, non seulement pour les plaignants, mais aussi pour les citoyens togolais. »

Selon Boye Adegoke, directeur de programme principal de Paradigm Initiative, « cette décision a de nouveau souligné le rôle que la justice doit jouer pour freiner la tendance de certains gouvernements africains à couper l’Internet à des fins politiques.

Les tribunaux ne peuvent pas se permettre de rester à l’écart car il y a trop de cas impliquant des décisions unilatérales des gouvernements en place de couper l’Internet surtout pendant les périodes électorales ou pendant les manifestations publiques à travers le continent.  Nous félicitons le tribunal de la CEDEAO pour ce jugement historique et félicitons la communauté des droits de l’homme pour cette victoire. »

L’an dernier, Paradigm Initiative a rejoint Access Now, Association for Progressive Communications (APC), ARTICLE 19, Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), et le groupe NetBlocks pour  soumettre ou un mémoire d’amici curiae dans le procès déposé par les Organisations de la Société Civile du Togo.

Au cours des dernières années, le gouvernement togolais a utilisé les coupures d’Internet et les couvre-feux pour étouffer la dissidence et faire respecter la loi et l’ordre. L’une des grandes préoccupations du gouvernement togolais est l’utilisation des réseaux sociaux pour organiser des manifestations anti-gouvernementales.

Le recours excessif à la force par les forces de sécurité et la violence ont fait au moins 11 morts, dont des enfants. Plus de 200 manifestants ont été arrêtés lors des manifestations de 2017.

L’actuel président Faure Gnassingbé dirige le pays depuis sa prise de fonction, en 2005, à la suite du décès de son père, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, qui a régné d’une main de fer pendant 38 ans.

Le Togo n’a pas de législation appropriée régissant l’utilisation et la liberté d’Internet. Ce vide juridique permet  au gouvernement et au pouvoir judiciaire d’appliquer le Code pénal, la loi sur la cyber sécurité, etc.. pour régir les activités en ligne. Avec ces lois inappropriées, les citoyens risquent jusqu’à cinq ans d’emprisonnement pour activités ou propos tenus en ligne ou sur les réseaux sociaux.

La nécessité d’une législation sur la liberté d’Internet a été évoquée ces dernières années par la presse et la société civile. Paradigm Initiative a commencé à travailler avec Afrotribune, en 2018, pour doter le pays d’une loi complète sur les droits et libertés numériques.

Notre travail en faveur d’un environnement en ligne respectueux des droits au Togo se poursuit et nous accueillons ce jugement historique avec enthousiasme.

Pour tout renseignement complémentaire sur la présente, n’hésitez pas à communiquer avec nous via media@paradigmhq.org

Jun 25
0

 Paradigm Initiative praises historic ECOWAS Court decision on internet shutdown in Togo

By | Internet Freedom, Press Release

Abuja, Nigeria. – [June 25, 2020] – Today, Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise that advocates for digital rights and inclusion in Africa ,  joins other civil society organizations to celebrate a landmark trial by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice.

The regional court has ruled that the restriction on Internet access, which took place from September 5 to 10 and again from September 19 to 21, 2017, was illegal and an affront to the applicants’ right to freedom of expression.

The court ordered the government of Togo to pay two million XAF to the plaintiffs as compensation, and to take all the necessary measures to guarantee the implementation of safeguards with respect to the right to freedom of expression of the Togolese people.

“It is a historic judgement that will send a strong signal to the entire continent, and to ruthless regimes in particular, to rethink the assumed benefits of illegal and abusive network disruptions,” said Emmanuel Vitus, Paradigm Initiative’s Communications Officer.

He added, “the court’s decision has far deeper implications for the future of online freedom in Togo. It’s a huge moment in the country’s recent history and very significant, not just for the plaintiffs, but also for the citizens of Togo.”

According to Boye Adegoke, Paradigm Initiative’s Senior Program Manager, “this decision has again emphasised the role that the court must play to rein in some African governments’ tendency to shut down the Internet towards political ends. Courts cannot afford to be aloof because there are too many cases, across the continent, involving unilateral decisions to shut down the internet by incumbent governments especially around election periods or during protests. We commend the ECOWAS court for this landmark judgement and congratulate the human rights community for this victory.” 

Last year, Paradigm Initiative joined Access Now, Association for Progressive Communications (APC), ARTICLE 19, Collaboration on International ICT Policy in East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CJP), Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), the and NetBlocks Group to submit “friends of the court”, or amici curiae brief in the lawsuit filed by local CSOs in Togo.

In the last few years, Togo has used Internet shutdowns and curfews to stifle dissent and enforce law and order. One of the big concerns is the use of social media tools to organize anti-government protests.

The excessive use of force by the security forces and violence has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 people, including children. Over 200 protesters have been arrested during the 2017 protests.

The current President Faure Gnassingbe has led the country of eight million people since taking over, in 2005, following the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled with an iron fist for 38 years.

Togo does not have appropriate legislation governing Internet use and freedom, leaving the government and judiciary to apply the existing penal code to online activities individuals have been jailed for up to five years for posting information about government or opposition policy on social media.

The need for legislation around Internet freedom has been raised in the Togolese media. Paradigm Initiative started working with Afrotribune, in 2018, to provide the country with a comprehensive digital rights and freedom bill. Our work towards a rights-respecting online environment in Togo continues, and we welcome this landmark judgement with excitement.

For any inquiries about this press release, please send an email to media@paradigmhq.org 

 

Jun 17
0

Policy Brief: The Digital Identity Process in Nigeria

By | Press Release

Abuja, Nigeria. – [June 17, 2020] – Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise that advocates for digital rights and inclusion in Africa has released a policy brief titled  ” The Digital Identity Process in Nigeria”

In a rapidly developing digital economy where identity is increasingly becoming important, this policy brief evaluates the digital identity process in Nigeria including problems, opportunities and recommendations. Importantly, the Brief feeds public discourse and citizen complaints into its analysis especially as the identity owners are the most affected group in the ID process. Recommendations touching on legal, technical and capacity development areas are made in the brief and we hope that the relevant stakeholders find them instructive in implementing one of the biggest duties in the modern economy; managing digital identity. 

“The policy brief is an assessment of the implementation of digital identity in Nigeria. We have been calling the attention of the identity management commission and other stakeholders to certain red flags and we have emphasized the importance of safeguards as an important prerequisite before implementing digital identity in Nigeria,”said Adeboye Adegoke, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Program Manager . 

 “The lack of data protection law has been at the forefront of our demands. In addition to this, we have requested for a sustained civil society engagement to ensure that digital identity isn’t imposed on the people.” Adeboye added..

<<<Download the Policy Brief here>>> 

 About Paradigm Initiative 

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve the livelihoods of under-served young Africans. The organization’s digital inclusion programs include a digital readiness school for young people living in under-served communities (LIFE) and a software engineering school targeting high potential young Nigerians (Dufuna). Both programs have a deliberate focus to ensure equal participation for women and girls.  The digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja, Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West Africa region); Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa). Paradigm Initiative has worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007, and across Africa from 2017, building experience, community trust and an organizational culture that positions us as a leading social enterprise in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent. Paradigm Initiative is also the convener of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a pan-African bilingual Forum that has held annually since 2013. 

For any inquiries about this press release, please send an email media@paradigmhq.org

 

Jun 17
0

Policy Brief: Tanzania’s EPOCA and Cybercrimes Laws Offer No Protection for Citizen’s Data

By | Press Release

Nairobi, Kenya. —[June 17, 2020]—Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise that advocates for digital rights and inclusion in Africa has released a Policy brief on Tanzania’s Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2018 and Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

Titled “Tanzania’s EPOCA and Cybercrimes Laws Offer No Protection for Citizen’s Data,” the policy brief analyses the Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2018 and the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

In summary, the policy brief underlined how Tanzania’s ICT Policy of 2015 recognizes ICT as the bedrock of national economic development and the country’s efforts to become a middle-income economy by 2025.

In this context, the main laws providing protection in Tanzania are the Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2018 and the Cybercrimes Act, 2015. The Electronic and Postal Communications Act (EPOCA) is the principal legal framework as far as electronic and postal communications and telecommunications in Tanzania are concerned.

The Act is administered by the Tanzania Communications and Regulatory Authority (TCRA), a government agency mandated to provide the required oversight in the sector. The Cybercrimes Act, 2015 provides for penal sanctions to deter or discourage privacy and data protection abuses and violations.

The Act is a draconian piece of legislation that has been used repeatedly to violate citizens’ privacy and other digital rights. In 2018, the government issued online content regulations which jeopardize the right to privacy, as well as citizens’ right to freedom of expression.

The country’s 1977 constitution guarantees the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to seek, receive and impart information. While the right to privacy is not absolute and the government is mandated, under Article 16 (2), to pass the necessary legal procedures to limit the enjoyment of this right, Tanzanian’s implementation of this provision has been criticized.

Tanzania’s digital rights legislation regulating digital content and online communications have received widespread criticism for threatening citizens’ realization of these constitutional guarantees.

Legislations such as the Cybercrimes Act, have been used to prosecute online users perceived to be critical of the persona of the president or of other powerful individuals and institutions. The Act further criminalizes publication of false information.

Additionally, the lack of a well organized and comprehensive legal framework has left many gaps in respect of privacy and data protection in Tanzania. These loopholes that have been exploited by repressive authorities to silence dissent and infringe on citizen rights ought to be sealed if the digital rights guarantees are to see the light of day. Privacy and data protection are largely new concepts to many Tanzanians.

This is largely attributed to the low level of ICT literacy in the country. As a result of this low level of awareness, therefore, a majority of internet users do not know or understand the risks they face.

Recommendations:

  1. There is an urgent need for civil society groups and other stakeholders to create awareness and make prescriptions for law reform in order to ensure respect for digital rights in Tanzania.
  2. There is need to repeal the current digital rights related laws in Tanzania to attune them to international standards and to the developments in the international arena in the area of digital rights.
  3. There is a need to enact a Digital Rights and Freedom Bill in Tanzania to complement the Electronic and Postal Communications Act, 2018 and the Cybercrimes Act, 2015.

“The lack of a robust, well organized and comprehensive legal framework in Tanzania has left many gaps as far as privacy and data protection in Tanzania is concerned,” said Gbenga Sesan, Paradigm Initiative’s Executive Director.

<<<<Download the Policy Brief here >>>

 About Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve the livelihoods of under-served young Africans. The organization’s digital inclusion programs include a digital readiness school for young people living in under-served communities (LIFE) and a software engineering school targeting high potential young Nigerians (Dufuna). Both programs have a deliberate focus to ensure equal participation for women and girls. The digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja, Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West Africa region); Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa). Paradigm Initiative has worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007, and across Africa from 2017, building experience, community trust and an organizational culture that positions us as a leading social enterprise in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent. Paradigm Initiative is also the convener of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a pan-African bilingual Forum that has held annually since 2013.

For any inquiries about this press release, please send an email to media@paradigmhq.org.

 

Jun 16
0

Paradigm Initiative condemns the recently amended National Broadcasting Commission Code in Nigeria 

By | Press Release

Abuja, Nigeria – [June 16, 2020] – Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working to advance digital rights and inclusion in Africa,   joins voices with innovators and internet broadcast content creators in Nigeria to strongly condemn the recently amended National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code released to “make provision for Local content, increased advertising revenue, and restriction of monopolistic behaviour in the broadcast industry”.

The Commission has by this Amendment, laid down unfavorable conditions and requirements for the just budding PayTV Industry in Nigeria; placing unfair and unrealistic burdens on local content producers and by extension, the economy.

While we’re yet to get an official definition from the Commission for ‘Web/Online Broadcasting’, it is clear from the new provisions that certain clauses will affect the development of the sector. The compulsion to prevent exclusive rights to content on PayTV platforms is archaic and regressive, to say the least. Apart from it being a blatant affront to the freedom of copyright holders to use and license their work as they wish, it also chokes innovation in the streaming television business. 

Furthermore, the NBC mandates that all persons wishing to operate web/online broadcasting services in Nigeria must register with the Commission. However, there is no public record of the Commission’s consultation with these stakeholders in making these amendments.

The internet space in Nigeria is developing and innovation is to be encouraged. However, policies like this can greatly discourage the development of technology and technology-based services thereby creating an unfavorable environment for the kind economic growth that is relevant in this age. 

Especially with the new realities faced by Nigeria as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, government policies should not only desist from hampering nascent technologies but must in fact, encourage and incentivize same. The amendments to the NBC Code do not incentivize innovation in the broadcast and television industry and therefore, we join voices with other stakeholders to call upon the NBC to re-engage its process of amendment by opening dialogue between itself and the key stakeholders who would be affected by these policy directions. 

Furthermore, we call on the NBCto seek policies that will incentivize and not punish local content creation and technology service delivery in the broadcast industry. 

About Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve the livelihoods of under-served young Africans. 

The digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja, Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West

Africa region); Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa). 

Paradigm Initiative is also the convener of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a pan-African bilingual Forum that has held annually since 2013. 

Jun 16
0

Paradigm Initiative concerned about plans to abolishes public interest litigation in Tanzania

By | Press Release

Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise that advocates for digital rights and inclusion in Africa is deeply concerned about the ongoing process by authorities in Tanzania to abolish Public Interest litigation.

Over the course of the last few weeks and months, the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania debated and passed the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, No. 3 of 2020.

In effect, and as evident in its various provisions, the Bill seeks to abolish public interest litigation, meaning that Tanzanian nationals, other persons and civil society organisations (CSOs) like ours in Tanzania shall be required, as a matter of law, to prove how an action complained of “has affected that person personally.”

As most actions brought against government or private entities in the pursuit of public interest litigation are often as a result of human rights violations against the general public or vulnerable persons, public interest litigation will be a thing of the past if this retrogressive law is assented into law by H.E President J.P Magufuli.

A legislation that seeks to modify the well-established principle of locus standi in human rights generally, by barring private individuals and civil society organisations from taking legal action to seek for legal redress against human rights violations unless they can show that they have personally been affected by the law or government action complained about. To put it in context, no country in East Africa has enacted or plans to enact such a law. This is even more worrying as Tanzania heads to the polls within the next few months.

For the common “mwananchi” (citizen) in Tanzania whose access to courts of law is already handicapped by an avalanche of social and economic constraints, the enactment of the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, No. 3 of 2020 outlawing public interest litigation provides a fertile ground for human rights abuses in a country that already has a not-so-good human rights record and violates the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania. We call upon the President to refuse to be party to the bandwagon that seeks to put to a halt to the progress made by the Republic of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Jun 05
0

Paradigm Initiative annonce les lauréats 2020 de la bourse pour les journalistes africains

By | Press Release

Ghana, Accra – [4 juin 2020] – Paradigm Initiative, une entreprise sociale panafricaine qui milite pour les droits numériques et l’inclusion digitale en Afrique, a annoncé la sélection de quatre journalistes africains pour la troisième édition de sa bourse pour les droits numériques et l’inclusion digitale. La bourse a attiré 430 candidatures de 30 pays en 2020.

 « La bourse pour les droits numériques et l’inclusion digitale continue de définir des normes en matière de développement des compétences des journalistes africains. Nos boursiers affichent des normes d’engagement extrêmement élevées en matière de droits numériques et l’inclusion digitale dans leur pays – ce qui résume l’esprit de Paradigm Initiative », a déclaré Emmanuel Vitus, responsable de la communication de Paradigm Initiative et gestionnaire de  la bourse. 

Bulanda Nkhowani, responsable du programme sur les droits numériques de Paradigm Initiative pour l’Afrique australe et membre du comité de sélection du programme de bourses, a déclaré : « cette année nous avons reçu de nombreuses candidatures de grande qualité, couvrant une vaste palette de disciplines surtout les droits numériques. » 

« Nous sommes ravis de la qualité des candidatures que la bourse a attirées malgré les défis actuels de la pandémie de COVID-19 », a ajouté Nkhowani.

Chaque année depuis 2018, Paradigm Initiative sélectionne un groupe de journalistes diversifiés parmi une palette de candidats compétitifs pour participer au programme de bourses, une expérience d’apprentissage intégré intensif de 5 mois. Jusqu’à présent, 4 journalistes du Ghana, du Nigéria et du Lesotho ont bénéficié de cette expérience solide et transformatrice.

Voici les journalistes lauréats de 2020 

  • Shaban Abdur Rahman Alfa, journaliste  numérique à Africanews, République du Congo
  • Khalifa Said, journaliste indépendante bilingue basée à Dar es-Salaam, Tanzanie
  • Sinatou Saka, journaliste et chef de projet éditorial à Radio France Internationale, France
  • Abisola Olasupo, journaliste multimédia au journal The Guardian, Nigéria

 Les boursiers 2020 se réuniront pour la première fois le 9 juin 2020 pour un webinaire d’orientation, où ils participeront à des séances d’orientation et de formation menées par l’équipe de direction de Paradigm Initiative. L’orientation sera suivie de programmes de formation et une collaboration en ligne avec les bureaux de Paradigm Initiative au Nigeria, au Cameroun, au Ghana, au Kenya et en Zambie. Chaque boursier sera chargé d’écrire des articles thématiques sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion digitale, et également éligible pour bénéficier d’un soutien financier pour des projets de reportages à grande échelle.

À propos des boursiers 2020 

Abisola Olasupo est journaliste multimédia et travaille actuellement avec le journal The Guardian au Nigeria. En tant que journaliste, elle a écrit des articles  sur des thématiques liées à la politique et au mode de vie pour  le site Web et le journal The Guardian. En plus d’écrire des articles, elle est scénariste, productrice et présentatrice chevronnée pour Guardian TV. Abisola a présenté et produit des reportages, des émissions et des documentaires sur les chaînes de télévision numérique de Guardian. Elle s’intéresse au Nigeria, à l’Afrique et aux affaires mondiales. Abisola aime raconter des histoires d’intérêt humain et aussi explorer de nouvelles cultures lorsqu’elle voyage. Abisola a également suivi des formations et des ateliers qui ont façonné ses deux années de travail en tant que journaliste. Abisola est titulaire d’une licence en anglais à l’Université d’Ibadan.

 Abdur Rahman Alfa Shaban, est un journaliste multimédia chez Africanews – une chaîne panafricaine bilingue opérant depuis Pointe Noire en République du Congo. Né à Accra, au Ghana, Shaban rêvait d’être journaliste radio jusqu’à ce le destin le balance dans l’univers de la presse écrite après une licence en journalisme obtenu à l’institut supérieur de journalisme du Ghana. Il a travaillé avec un journal privé, le New Crusading GUIDE, avant de passer au cinéma documentaire pendant cinq ans. Shaban a atterri dans le journalisme en ligne il y a cinq ans et a depuis consolidé son expertise dans ce qui est aujourd’hui un espace de journalisme en pleines mutations sur le continent. Avec son rôle actuel en tant que responsable du site anglais de Africanews, Shaban bénéficie d’une couverture qui comprend un mélange engageant d’actualités, de sports, de technologies et de contenus de culture avec une perspective africaine. Il est technophile et passionné de médias sociaux.

 Sinatou Saka est spécialiste de la recherche sur le numérique dans des domaines qui permettent de travailler sur les problèmes de société en Afrique. Dans ce sens elle coordonne le RFI Challenge App Afrique. Sinatou Saka a commencé sa carrière à l’ORTB, puis à l’agence Bénin presse, où elle a développé toute la stratégie de l’agence en tant que journaliste et responsable du numérique. Avant de rejoindre RFI en France, Sinatou a travaillé comme rédactrice en chef du magazine Afrikarchi, basé en France. Elle a également élaboré une étude complète sur le développement numérique en Afrique, mandatée par l’agence française de coopération média. Sinatou Saka a créé la plateforme Idémi pour favoriser et aider à la création de supports numériques dans les langues africaines sur la toile.

Khalifa Said est un journaliste indépendant bilingue basé à Dar es-Salaam, en Tanzanie. Il s’est forgé une réputation dans le paysage médiatique du pays en se lançant dans plusieurs investigations que beaucoup considèrent comme risquées compte tenu de la situation politique de la Tanzanie. Said est diplômé de l’université Tumanini de Dar es-Salaam avec une licence en communications de masse. Said a travaillé pour The Citizen, le  journal anglais le plus connu de la Tanzanie, pendant trois ans, à la fois comme journaliste et analyste politique, où il a eu l’occasion de se familiariser avec le fonctionnement interne du pays de ses systèmes politiques, sociaux et économiques. Said a écrit de nombreux articles sur le développement politique de la Tanzanie et a fourni d’innombrables reportages sur les questions de citoyenneté, politique, bonne gouvernance, droits numériques, droits de l’homme et parfois même des affaires politiques mondiales et régionales. Les travaux de Said sont également apparus dans des publications majeures et régionales comme The Elephant et Africa is a Country, où il a publié plusieurs chroniques sur le développement de la Tanzanie, en particulier dans sa gestion de la pandémie de COVID-19.

 À propos de la bourse pour les droits numériques et l’inclusion

Le programme de bourse 2020 vise à impliquer les professionnels de médias dans le travail quotidien de Paradigm Initiative dans les domaines des droits numériques et de l’inclusion numérique en Afrique. Pendant 4 mois, les journalistes auront le change de collaborer avec les équipes de Paradigm Initiative à Lagos, Aba, Abuja et Kano (Nigeria), à Yaoundé (Cameroun), Lusaka (Zambie), à Nairobi (Kenya) et à Accra (Ghana). Ce programme de bourse permettra aux professionnels des médias de mieux cerner les domaines des droits numériques et de l’inclusion numérique qui sont généralement sous-estimés dans les efforts de développement au niveau national et régional. Cette bourse offre une opportunité aux journalistes en milieu de carrière de se familiariser avec les droits numériques, ainsi qu’aux efforts de plaidoyer et d’intervention en matière d’inclusion numérique en Afrique. Les journalistes travailleront avec Paradigm Initiative sur divers projets et contribueront à améliorer la compréhension du public des questions de droits numériques et d’inclusion en Afrique.

 À propos de Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) est une organisation à but non lucratif qui construit des systèmes d’appui basés sur les TIC et défend les droits numériques afin d’améliorer les conditions de vie des jeunes Africains défavorisés. Les programmes d’inclusion numérique de l’organisation comprennent une école de préparation au numérique pour les jeunes vivant dans des communautés mal desservies (LIFE) et une école de génie logiciel ciblant les jeunes Nigérians à fort potentiel (Dufuna). Les deux programmes sont délibérément axés sur la participation égale des femmes et des jeunes filles. Le programme de défense des droits numériques est axé sur l’élaboration de politiques publiques pour la liberté de l’Internet en Afrique avec nos bureaux à Abuja, au Nigeria (couvrant l’Ouest anglophone région Afrique) ; Yaoundé, Cameroun (Afrique centrale) ; Nairobi (Afrique de l’Est), Accra (Ghana) et Lusaka, Zambie (Afrique australe). Paradigm Initiative a travaillé depuis 2007 dans plusieurs communautés au Nigeria, et à travers l’Afrique à partir de 2017, en construisant une image de confiance auprès des communautés et une culture organisationnelle qui nous positionne comme une entreprise sociale de premier plan dans le domaine des TIC pour le développement et des droits numériques sur le continent. Paradigm Initiative est également l’organisateur du Forum sur les droits numériques et l’inclusion (DRIF), un forum panafricain bilingue qui se tient chaque année depuis 2013. 

Pour toute demande de renseignements à propos de ce communiqué de presse, veuillez envoyer un courriel à media@paradigmhq.org

 

 

 

 

Jun 05
0

Paradigm Initiative announces 2020 Digital Rights and Inclusion Media fellows

By | Digital Rights, Internet Freedom, Press Release

Ghana, Accra. – [June 4, 2020] – Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise that advocates for digital rights and inclusion in Africa has announced the selection of  four African journalists for the third edition of its Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship. The media fellowship attracted 430 applications from 30 countries in 2020. 

“The Digital Rights and Inclusion Fellowship continues to set the standard in skill development for African journalists. Our Fellows exhibit exceedingly high standards of commitment to digital rights and digital inclusion reporting in their countries – encapsulating the spirit of Paradigm Initiative,” said Emmanuel Vitus, Paradigm Initiative’s Communications Officer and manager of the fellowship.

Speaking on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights Program Officer for Southern Africa and member of the Fellowship Program Selection Committee, Bulanda Nkhowani said, “This year’s application pool is among the largest received and we continue to be inspired by the high-calibre candidates that the program attracts.”

“We are excited about the quality of applications the fellowship attracted in its third year despite the current challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bulanda said.

Each year since its inaugural fellowship in 2018, Paradigm Initiative selects a group of diverse and accomplished journalists from a competitive applicant pool to partake in the fellowship program, a 5-month intensive  embedded learning experience. So far 4 journalists from Ghana, Nigeria and Lesotho have benefited from this robust and transformative experience.

 This year’s cohort includes four journalists from 3 countries:

  • Shaban Abdur Rahman Alfa, Digital Journalist at  Africanews, Republic of Congo
  • Khalifa Said, Bilingual freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
  • Sinatou Saka,  Journalist & Editorial Project Manager at Radio France International, France
  • Abisola  Olasupo, Multimedia journalist at  The Guardian newspaper, Nigeria 

 This class of 2020 fellows will convene for the first time on June 9, 2020 for an orientation webinar, where they will participate in orientation and training sessions conducted by the Paradigm Initiative leadership team. The orientation will be followed by executive training programs and online collaboration with Paradigm Initiative offices in Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia. Each fellow will be tasked to write stories about digital rights and digital inclusion, and also eligible for a legacy in-depth reporting project  that will leverage the skills they learned to inform their audience.

 About the 2020 Fellows:

Abisola Olasupo is a Multimedia Journalist currently working with The Guardian Nigeria. As a journalist, she has written news, politics, features and lifestyle articles which have been published on The Guardian website and newspaper. Apart from writing articles, she is a seasoned scriptwriter, producer and presenter for Guardian TV. Abisola has presented and produced reports, shows and documentaries on Guardian’s digital TV channels. She has keen interest in Nigeria, Africa and global affairs. Abisola loves telling human interest stories and also exploring new cultures when she travels. Abisola has also attended training and workshops which have shaped her two years of working as a digital journalist. Abisola holds a B.A. in English from University of Ibadan.

Abdur Rahman Shaban Alfa, is a digital journalist with Africanews – a bilingual pan-African channel operating from Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo. Born and grew up in Accra, Ghana, Shaban dreamed of being a radio journalist till he eventually landed in print journalism after graduating from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. He worked with a private newspaper, the New Crusading GUIDE, before transiting to documentary filmmaking for five years. Shaban landed in online journalism five years ago and has since gone on to consolidate his expertise in what is a fast-paced and challenging but thrilling journalism space. With his current role as the Head of English Digital at Africanews, Shaban enjoys coverage that features an engaging mix of hard news, sports, business, technology and lifestyle content from an African perspective. He is  tech savvy and a social media enthusiast.  

 Sinatou Saka is a Beninese journalist and editorial project manager at Radio France Internationale. She is the coordinator of the RFI Challenge App Afrique project, a digital innovation competition whose objective is to promote the emergence of the smart city in Africa through the development of mobile applications or any other digital service that improves the quality of urban services or reduces their costs. Sinatou Saka is the founder of  Idémi, a platform that promotes and helps create digital media in African languages on the web. Sinatou Saka began her career at ORTB, the Beninese state-run radio and television, before leading the digital transformation of the country’s state news agency. Before joining RFI in France, Sinatou worked as Editor-in-chief of the France-based magazine Afrikarchi.

 Khalifa Said is a bilingual freelance journalist based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He has built himself a reputation in the country’s media landscape pursuing stories that many consider risky given Tanzania’s political situation, all for the sake of holding the government accountable.  Said is a graduate of  Tumanini University College in Dar es Salaam with a B.A degree in Mass Communications.  Said worked for The Citizen, Tanzania’s leading English newspaper, for three years both as a feature and political reporter where he had the opportunity to familiarize himself with the country’s inner workings of its political as well as social and economic systems. Said has written extensively on Tanzania’s political development as well as providing countless feature stories as assigned by my senior covering issues of citizenship, politics, good governance, digital rights, human rights, and sometimes even global and regional political affairs. Said’s works have also appeared in major and regional publications like The Elephant and Africa is a Country, where he has chronicled Tanzania’s developments especially in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

About the Digital Rights and Inclusion Fellowship

 The Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights and Digital Inclusion Media Fellowship seeks to embed media professionals within the daily work of Paradigm Initiative in the fields of digital rights and digital inclusion in Africa. The fellowship seeks to expose media professionals to an underreported field of work in national/regional developments and hopes to increase reporting on digital rights and inclusion in Africa. The fellowship is designed to immerse outstanding mid-career journalists in digital rights and digital inclusion advocacy, and intervention efforts – in Africa.

 About Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve the livelihoods of under-served young Africans. The organization’s digital inclusion programs include a digital readiness school for young people living in under-served communities (LIFE) and a software engineering school targeting high potential young Nigerians (Dufuna). Both programs have a deliberate focus to ensure equal participation for women and girls.  The digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja, Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West Africa region); Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Nairobi, Kenya (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa). Paradigm Initiative has worked in communities across Nigeria since 2007, and across Africa from 2017, building experience, community trust and an organizational culture that positions us as a leading social enterprise in ICT for Development and Digital Rights on the continent.

Paradigm Initiative is also the convener of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF), a pan-African bilingual Forum that has held annually since 2013.  

For any inquiries about this press release, please send an email media@paradigmhq.org

Jun 02
0

Nigeria: What’s A Democracy Without Free Speech?

By | Digital Rights, Internet Freedom, Press Release

As far back as 2016, the Paradigm Initiative has been vocal against two provisions in the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act. We have argued at Trial, Appellate and now the Supreme Court that Sections 38 and 24 of the Act serve as legal backing for oppressive actions. 

Section 24 of the Act states that: 

Any person who knowingly or intentionally sends a message or other matter by means of computer systems or network that…he knows to be false for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to another…commits an offence under this Act and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not more than N7,000,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or to both such fine and imprisonment. 

This above notorious provision has fueled the fire of oppression by political leaders against journalists, bloggers and common citizens who dare to communicate dissenting opinions or controversial opinions. 

It must be known that Freedom of Expression also encapsulates the freedom to communicate dissenting, controversial, difficult and even annoying opinions. However, since the Cybercrime Act was passed, the law has been used by politicians and the wealthy to harass and intimidate  citizens who voice dissent or criticism.

It came to our notice over the Eid-al-Fitr holiday that journalist, Rotimi Jolayemi, has become yet another victim of this draconian law. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, using his political influence ordered the arrest of the journalist’s wife (locked up for 8 days), and two brothers (locked up for 9 & 2 days respectively) before the journalist turned himself in to the police. 

The Journalist has now been charged for Cyberstalking; ‘for causing annoyance, insult, hatred and ill will to go to the current Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Lai Mohamed.’

Whether or not the poem rendered by the journalist was critical of the Minister, it is universally agreed that a nation that would practice Democracy must welcome criticism. In fact, criticism, no matter how crude and hurtful, must be anticipated and even welcomed by public officers in a democracy. What is a democratic nation, if public leaders cannot take feedback and criticism from the people they serve? What is a democratic nation, if laws are enacted to criminalize free speech? What is a democratic nation, if the people’s representatives, punish the people for speaking? 

We use this opportunity to shine light on a similar case; the case of Human Rights Activist, Gabriel Ogbonna who was arrested and detained over an alleged false publication (on Facebook) against the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and charged with conspiracy and Cyber Terrorism. This highly politically motivated arrest, subsequent detention and irrational charge reveals the endemic oppression that has plagued Law Enforcement and is being fueled by the Cybercrime Act against Nigerian citizens. 

It is known that as an Organization, we wholeheartedly condemn the criminalization of free speech by the government. And now, we condemn the action by the Nigerian Police Force in these instances, not only being used as a tool of oppression but also carrying our unlawful arrests and detentions in the process. 

Before our eyes, the ethos of integrity and respect for human beings is rapidly deteriorating in Nigeria; proxy arrests are being carried out and innocent people locked up just to lure a suspect to present himself. Furthermore, the law is turning a blind eye to these atrocities and our government has chosen only to serve the rich. Worse still, the country is creating an environment that frowns against dissent, criticism and free speech. 

Paradigm Initiative hereby condemns the unlawful actions of the Police with regard to arrests and detention in the Rotimi Jolayemi case and the Gabriel Ogbonna case and calls on those involved to recognize the danger of these actions to the collective wellbeing of the country and desist forthwith. We also condemn the use of state resources and institutions such as the DSS and the Police to settle personal grouse, massage bruised ego, and oppress vulnerable citizens. 

Apr 28
0

Paradigm Initiative and Start up by A&E law develop Draft COVID-19 Regulations

By | Press Release

In a virtual policy sprint that lasted for 72 hours, Startup by A&E Law and Paradigm Initiative led the development of a draft Coronavirus Regulation which States in Nigeria can adopt to guide their response to the global pandemic. The Regulation which was drafted in line with the Quarantine Act (CAP Q2 LFN 2004) sets out a defined lockdown period during which a State Governor may impose such restrictions as may be necessary to help forestall the pandemic. The Draft also has provisions to ensure adherence to defined timeframes to ensure proportionality in its application. The Draft Regulation which has 12 clauses also sets out the declarations prescribed by the Quarantine Act on a dangerous infectious disease and the local area (State) to which it applies.

While speaking on the development, Paradigm Initiative’s Program Manager, Digital Rights, Adeboye Adegoke says that “We have worked with Startup by A&E Law and other members of the Nigerian community online to produce a standard Regulation that reflects our shared commitment to combating this pandemic. As a digital right organisation, we ensured that the draft has digital rights provision to safeguard against potential abuse and to ensure that the measures being taken by States at this time are lawful, necessary, appropriate, periodic, and transparent.

Speaking on the Policy Sprint,  Naro Omo-Osagie of Start-up by A&E Law described it as a glimpse into law and policymaking in an increasingly digitized future. She added that they were inspired to Crowdsource a Draft Regulation for Nigerian States after the Covid19 Policy Hackathon organized by LawyersHub Kenya. She expressed her appreciation to all the individuals and organizations whose support and guidance contributed to the final document. She thanked Lawyers Hub Kenya, the Africa Law Tech Association and in particular, Paradigm Initiative whose collaboration and input made the sprint possible. On the Draft Regulations, she further stated that Startup by A&E Law is happy to connect with States seeking to adopt the Draft Regulations for their own use.

About the Organizers

Startup by A&E Law is a specialized division of A&E Law Partnership and the Convener of the Nigeria Tech Law Forum. They offer expertise in Startup Law, Tech Policy, and Business Development for early-stage companies. Through their online platforms, they connect entrepreneurs with practical tools and legal solutions to help grow their businesses. You can find them online at www.startupbyaandelaw.com  and on Instagram and Twitter @startupbyande..

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights. Its digital rights advocacy program is focused on the development of public policy for internet freedom in Africa, with offices in Abuja, Nigeria (covering the Anglophone West Africa region); Accra, Ghana; Yaoundé, Cameroon (Central Africa); Arusha, Tanzania (East Africa) and Lusaka, Zambia (Southern Africa).

 

 

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