CSW67 Pitch: Strengthening civil society participation in internet governance spaces

During the NGO briefing on January 26, 2023, members of civil society pitched their recommendations to the Dutch CSW67 delegation. Together they had one clear message: Involve us and take human rights in digital spaces seriously.

Marwa Azelmat, Digital Rights Expert at RNW Media, explains how governments can and should ensure the inclusion and participation of civil society in the design and implementation of digital technologies in an inclusive and transparent way. "Strengthening civil society participation today cannot happen without a conducive environment where digital technologies are designed, implemented and consumed in an open, transparent, diverse, inclusive and rights-respecting manner. 

To achieve the latter, governments must focus on: 

Strengthening the capacities of and integrating civil society’s diverse voices in internet-related policy and decision-making spaces (I.e delegations to high level spaces include and consult civil society representatives)
 Discussions related to digital technologies should be seen in context of a larger, ongoing conversation given that the scope of corporate actions in upholding human rights will continue to change and be shaped by technological advances (e.g. in access, connectivity, design and infrastructure) as well as emerging laws and standards regulating ICT companies internationally and locally. Thus, governments must ensure that the digital ecosystem serve progress on human rights through monitoring practices. 
Ensuring that the Internet intermediaries work is in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and reflecting the lived realities of communities that are structurally subjugated by digital technologies. 
Responses to and prevention of online harms should strive to create an enabling environment for women's access to and enjoyment of ICT in terms of quality infrastructure, training in highly technical skills, and meaningful participation in internet governance for civil society groups particularly from the women’s rights and feminist movements.
Law creation or reform regarding the regulation of the internet must involve extensive consultation with women’s rights and sexual rights civil society organisations to ensure synergy with other legislative developments responding to online harms and to integrate a gendered awareness into potential measures to avoid any discriminatory effect."

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