Digital Rights Advocacy in Africa by Paradigm Initiative

Paradigm Initiative, a nonprofit organization focused on digital rights and inclusion, is committed to creating a tech-driven environment that promotes human rights and uplifts underserved communities. Executive Director Gbenga Sesan emphasized this mission during a recent event in Lagos, stating the group’s dedication to empowering individuals through access to skills and resources for better socio-economic outcomes.Digital Rights Advocacy in Africa by Paradigm Initiative

Over the years, Paradigm Initiative has partnered with global entities like the Ford Foundation, Google.org, and Open Society Foundations to advance digital inclusion initiatives across Africa. The organization also hosts the annual Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum, bringing together activists to champion internet freedom since 2013.Digital Rights Advocacy in Africa by Paradigm Initiative

For more about their impactful work, visit their official site Paradigm Initiative.

At least 500 stakeholders attend the annual event, which is conducted in both English and French.

“DRIF gives participants the tools they need to deal with problems and gaps in their communities while also encouraging them to work together and share their knowledge,” he said.

The group has also done a great job of pushing for policy changes.

Sesan said that the Paradigm Initiative was very important in writing the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which was Africa’s first digital rights law. It was passed by the House of Representatives in 2018 and by the Senate in 2019.

He said that this law has led to similar efforts in Somalia, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Sesan said, “We have helped parliamentarians in Malawi, South Sudan, and Tanzania pass strong data protection laws.”

He also talked about important court victories in strategic lawsuits, such as court decisions that fixed problems with Nigeria’s Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and the Twitter ban, which set important legal precedents for digital rights.

Sesan ended by stressing how important it is to work together with different groups, such as the media, to bring about systemic change.

He said, “The work we do can change society as a whole by protecting digital rights and making sure everyone is included.”