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 organisations 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 documentary 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
• Corporatisation of resources, including people’s data
• Continuing threats to freedom of expression and access to information, which disproportionately affect already vulnerable and marginalised communities

Recognising the collective effort needed to address these urgent issues, the statement urges all stakeholders, including governments, technology companies, civil society organisations, 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-centred 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 recognise 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; corporatisation of resources, including our data; a looming climate crisis and the further marginalisation 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 marginalised communities. 

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

We stand in solidarity with each other and those who have been silenced or marginalised, 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 organisations, 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 (Organisation)

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 Siddiki