Global Partners Digital

Next week at #RightsCon, join us for a co-hosted session with European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting: 'Fit for purpose: does the UN’s AI governance regime ensure a rights-respecting approach?' (Feb 25, 11.30-12:30, TICC Room 101 B). Featuring speakers Nighat Dad (Digital Rights Foundation), Marlena Wisniak (ECNL), Ian Andrew Barber (GPD) and Paul Ash (Christchurch Call Foundation). #RightsCon2025 #ai #governance

Modalities for the WSIS+20 Review have finally been announced. We unpack their implications in our newly updated explainer: https://lnkd.in/eW4qvi9P #wsis #wsis20 #internetgovernance

Following #WSIS20? Wondering how governments are planning to engage stakeholders now the draft modalities resolution is out? Join Global Partners Digital and European University Institute on Thursday 20 February, 15:00 CET, for a dialogue between representatives of the European Union and the wider stakeholder community. This is your chance to learn more about the EU's approach and share your thoughts.

GPD is seeking two or more expert consultants to provide capacity building support and technical expertise on a new two-year project. The project, which concludes in September 2026, aims to support civil society groups in countering Internet fragmentation in a range of technical standard setting bodies and multilateral forums. The consultants will act as a ‘technical helpdesk‘ for groups engaged in the project, offering capacity-building support and resource development, technical and strategic expertise, monitoring and updates.   The majority of support is likely to be provided remotely, due to the global distribution of civil society groups involved in the project. Candidates from all areas of the world are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Consultants are required to have the following proven expertise and experience: - Expertise in technical standards and protocols, Internet governance, Internet fragmentation, human rights standards; - Expertise in navigating and engaging in technical standards-setting bodies (particularly IETF, ITU, ICANN); - Expertise in understanding the multistakeholder model of Internet governance and related multilateral forums and discussions (particularly WSIS, SotF and the GDC); - Experience designing and delivering trainings to civil society; - Strong relationships with stakeholders (including civil society, public and private sectors).   Full details and how to submit your tender here: https://lnkd.in/d-pX8Ybm Submissions close on 15 January ⏰ #job #internetgovernance #careers #humanrights

Are you planning to engage in the WSIS+20 Review Process? My brilliant colleague Ellie McDonald wrote a guide to everything you need to know. 20 years after the WSIS process created a set of actions that the UN needed to undertake, in collaboration with all stakeholders, to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society, that vision is more under threat than ever. Reach out if you have questions or want to hear more about Global Partners Digital's plans and positions.

Next year brings the 20 year Review of the landmark World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), an ongoing process which began with a two-phase summit in 2003 and 2005. The Review is a moment to evaluate the WSIS framework, its realisation through the Action Lines and the institutions it created, like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), and to ask whether they remain fit for purpose. From a civil society perspective, there are critical questions to consider. How has this framework and its implementation served to advance (or not) human rights as a prerequisite for the people-centred society envisaged by WSIS? And to what extent has multistakeholderism, as operationalised through WSIS outcomes like the IGF, resulted in greater protections for human rights? In a new blog, co-authored by Ellie McDonald and Lea Kaspar, we unpack the key issues at stake in the WSIS+20 Review, share information about the process we have collected so far and outline opportunities to shape its outcomes: https://lnkd.in/e36ft6Yc The blog covers: -- A recap of the history of WSIS, its significance, and the shifting context and landscape from the original summit through WSIS+10 to WSIS+20; -- Possible additions to the WSIS Action Lines (including a new one on AI), alongside efforts to update existing ones; -- Considerations and questions around the alignment of WSIS with other processes in the increasingly complex UN ecosystem, notably the Global Digital Compact (GDC); -- A detailed rundown and overview of upcoming milestones and events in the WSIS+20 Review, focused on opportunities for civil society engagement. It goes without saying that civil society engagement is vital to ensure the Review reflects a rights-based and people-centred approach. Given the significant questions remaining around both the process and substance of WSIS+20, GPD will continue to track and highlight its progress. Stay posted. #WSIS20 #internetgovernance #digitalrights

The upcoming 2025 Global Conference on Cyber Capacity Building (#GC3B25) is a powerful opportunity for organizations to shape the future of global cyber resilience. Taking place on May 14-15, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland with the support of the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE), the conference will bring together global leaders, experts, and practitioners to strengthen digital foundations worldwide and drive progress aligned with the Accra Call for Action. As a Strategic Partner of GC3B, GPD is honoured to support this important work. Are you an organization with expertise to share? Apply to lead an interactive workshop at the Conference via the Open Call. Organizations from all regions of the world are encouraged to participate. https://lnkd.in/dPVwnp_H

Global Partners Digital is seeking to contract an experienced external evaluation consultant to conduct a final evaluation of a project on Internet Fragmentation. The project aims to counter Internet fragmentation and enable an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure Internet that promotes and protects human rights. The evaluation should include the following deliverables: - An Evaluation Report (12 – 15 pages); analysing the project’s main achievements, lessons learned and recommendations for future work; - An online presentation of the report to the GPD project team. The evaluation will likely take place from the end of November 2024 until 30 January 2025. The evaluation will comprise an estimated 15-20 days of work. Knowledge of digital policy, human rights and technical standards-setting is desirable. We encourage applications from individuals living or working in global South countries. Full Terms of Reference is available here: https://lnkd.in/e4zJAUge Please indicate your interest by emailing Keerti Rajagopalan <keerti@gp-digital.org> with “CIF Evaluation Proposal” as the subject line.

Today, we join other civil society groups in urging the EU and member states to withdraw support from the rights-harming UN Cybercrime Convention: https://lnkd.in/ePZAC7FC FAO: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Ylva Johansson, Margrethe Vestager, Didier Reynders Signatories to joint letter: Access Now Amnesty International @ApTI, Romania asli telli, WISER at Wits University Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP) Chaos Computer Club e.V. CyberPeace Institute Digitalcourage Douwe Korff, Emeritus Professor of international law, London Metropolitan University Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Electronic Frontier Norway Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) epicenter.works– for digital rights European Digital Rights (EDRi) Fundación Karisma Global Partners Digital (GPD) Homo Digitalis Human Rights Watch IFEX International Press Institute (IPI) IT-POL Politiscope Privacy International R3D: Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales SHARE Foundation Statewatch TEDIC Wikimedia Europe Wikimedia Foundation #cybercrime #humanrights #digitalrights

The United Nations First Committee has a responsibility to protect human security in the digital age, and address unlawful surveillance, cyber attacks, and internet shutdowns. See what we and other civil society orgs like CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Amnesty International, Association for Progressive Communications, CyberPeace Institute, Derechos Digitales, Global Partners Digital, and ICT4Peace Foundation call for: ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eVRy4gF3