DRAPAC23 Participants Solidarity Statement: for Greater Protection of Rights in the Asia-Pacific

Participants of the Digital Rights Asia Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC23) have issued a solidarity statement calling for the greater protection of human rights in the digital age.

The statement, signed by over 100 organizations and individuals, was jointly developed during the DRAPAC23 Assembly held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from May 22 to 26, 2023.

EngageMedia, a nonprofit that promotes digital rights, open and secure technology, and social issue documentaries in the Asia-Pacific, convened the week-long event which brought together over 500 participants from broad sectors of civil society to build knowledge, collaborations, and momentum around digital rights.

The statement highlights the increasing threats to digital rights in the region, including:

• A rise in repressive and reactionary governments and policies

• The spread of online misinformation and disinformation

• Corporatization of resources, including people’s data

• Continuing threats to freedom of expression and access to information, which disproportionately affect already vulnerable and marginalized communities

Recognizing the collective effort needed to address these urgent issues, the statement urges all stakeholders, including governments, technology companies, civil society organizations, and individuals, to work together in protecting and promoting digital rights and freedoms for all.

Among other things, the statement calls for the internet to be governed as a public good, for the protection and enjoyment of all human rights online and offline, and for the implementation of rights-based and human-centered policies related to the internet and digital technologies.

“With current and emerging technologies reshaping the digital rights landscape in the region, it’s critical for digital rights advocates and human rights defenders to work together and collectively navigate the shared challenges we face,” said EngageMedia Programme and Advocacy Director Red Tani. “We must explore ways to strengthen regional solidarity and advance our work to build a rights-respecting digital future.”

Read the DRAPAC23 Statement of Solidarity below:

We, the participants of the Digital Rights Asia Pacific Assembly held in Chiang Mai from 22 to 26 May 2023, representing diverse backgrounds and perspectives from 35 countries across the region, have come together to discuss the critical challenges faced by our communities in the context of current and emerging digital technologies and to explore ways to advance our work to build a rights-respecting digital future.

We recognize that the region is at an important crossroads, with the promise of the internet and emerging digital technologies to usher in an inclusive and equitable future on the one hand while millions still remain unconnected; a rise in repressive and reactionary governments and policies; threats to our human rights and fundamental freedoms; silencing of voices through violence and hate; misleading rhetoric and misinformation; corporatization of resources, including our data; a looming climate crisis and the further marginalization of already vulnerable communities including but not limited to gender, sexual and religious minorities, people with disabilities, refugees and indigenous peoples.

As stakeholders in the digital rights movement in the region, we call for the internet to be governed as a public good, where all citizens have the means and the right to access a free and open internet and the unrestricted flow of information.

We stand for the protection and enjoyment of all human rights online and offline, including freedom of expression, privacy, and access to information, particularly for those from marginalized communities.

We believe in the implementation of rights-based and human-centered policies related to the internet and digital technologies that put people before profit and politics, and that are developed through an inclusive, multi-stakeholder process.

We stand in solidarity with each other and those who have been silenced or marginalized, and agree to work in cross-regional unity and collaboration in securing accountability and justice for those harmed.

We celebrate the diversity of voices, perspectives and experiences across the Asia Pacific and champion their right to co-exist free from discrimination, hate and violence.

We urge the broader internet community in the region, including individuals, civil society organizations, independent institutions, businesses and states, to join us in defending our human rights, protecting our environment and working towards a just and equitable society for all.

Signatures (Organization)

1. Access Now

2. Active Vista Center Inc

3. Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)

4. ARTICLE 19

5. Asia Centre

6. Asia Development Alliance

7. Association for Progressive Communications

8. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization

9. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio & Communication

10. Biyung Indonesia

11. Body and Data

12. Break the Fake Movement

13. Bulatlat

14. Burma VJ Media

15. Cambodian Center for Independent Media

16. Cambodian Institute for Democracy

17. Cambodian Youth Network Association

18. Center for Science, Technology, and Society, Chulalongkorn University

19. Coalition of Cambodian Farmers Community

20. Combine Resource Institution

21. Common Room Networks Foundation

22. Computer Professionals’ Union

23. Cooperation Committee for Cambodia

24. Digital Defenders Partnership

25. DigitalJusticeCN

26. Digitally Right

27. Doublethink Lab

28. Earki.co

29. EngageMedia

30. Equitable Cambodia

31. Exile Hub

32. Federal FM

33. Filipino Freethinkers

34. Forus

35. Foundation for Advancing Critical Thinking in South Asia (FACTS)

36. Foundation for Media Alternatives

37. Free Expression Myanmar (FEM)

38. Hashtag Generation

39. IM Swedish Development Partner

40. Initiative for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS), Inc.

41. Interlab

42. International Media Support (IMS)

43. Knowledge for Development

44. Law Life Culture

45. Legal Aid for Human Rights

46. Legal Dignity

47. LocalizationLab

48. Luminate

49. Mahawthada Digital Solution

50. Manushya Foundation

51. Media Matters for Democracy Pakistan

52. Microgovernance Research Initiative

53. Myanmar Internet Project

54. Open Culture Foundation

55. OPTF (Session)

56. Point of View

57. Polytechnic University of the Philippines

58. Public Virtue Research Institute

59. Purple Code Collective

60. SAFEnet

61. School of Public Policy Chiang Mai University

62. Security Matters

63. Sinar Project

64. Solutify Myanmar

65. Spring University Myanmar

66. Sunflower Film Organization

67. Taiwan Association for Human Rights

68. Tattle Civic Technologies

69. The Asia Foundation

70. Thibi

71. Tifa Foundation

72. Timorese Association for Progressive Information and Technology

73. TRACE Indonesia (Fast Response Team)

74. Whose Knowledge?

75. WITNESS

76. YIFoS Indonesia

77. Young Experts: Tech for Health

Signatures (Individual)

1. Ain Ghazal

2. Anton Mujahir

3. Ardilla (Yaya) Maisara

4. Charisse Joan Cao

5. Demie Dangla

6. Dharini Priscilla

7. Dulanjaya Mahagamage

8. EJ Gagui

9. Eze Soh

10. Faisal Bustamam

11. Fernando Ximenes

12. Jameekorn Aumnatphook

13. Jeebs Unabia

14. Jen Tarnate

15. Jeyra Morallo

16. Jonnah Marie Morado

17. Julaluck Punyata

18. Kevin Lau

19. Khun Win

20. King Catoy

21. Kristine Camille Sulit

22. Krupskaya Valila

23. Maharddhika Maharddhika

24. Michael Gray

25. Minhaj Aman

26. Monira Begum Munni

27. Muhammad Naziful Haq

28. Niken Lestari

29. Prapasiri Suttisome

30. Red Tani

31. Ri Na

32. RIzki Estrada

33. Salem Maduwa

34. Sanjib Chaudhary

35. Sara Pacia

36. SHIH-TING YOU

37. Shoeb Abdullah

38. Siti Desyana

39. Soe Sandar Oo

40. Thanarin Pornpongphanurat

41. Thaw Tar Swe

42. Thidar Htay

43. Vino Lucero

44. YI-RU CHEN

45. Zana Fauzi

46. Zayed Ahmed Siddik

Access the Joint Solidarity Statement here