Civil society plays a pivotal role in shaping global norms and rules related to internet governance (IG). It brings crucial expertise in human rights, societal impacts of technology, especially on marginalised communities, and considerations related to equality, accessibility, and inclusion. This role should be explicitly recognised and amplified in all IG processes, including in the development of technical standards.
However, this will not happen without creating spaces for meaningful, long-term engagement and resources for civil society, especially for organisations working with and for under-represented groups in global majority countries. At a time of unprecedented global focus on internet governance, the Civil Society Alliance for Digital Empowerment (CADE) aims to bring about a lasting increase in structural civil society participation in these processes.
We are honoured to be part of an incredible collective of partner organisations from diverse backgrounds and look forward to working together with them:
- Diplo, Malta
- Forus, France
- Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Uganda
- Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet), Kenya
- Sarvodaya Fusion, Sri Lanka
- Social Media Exchange (SMEX), Lebanon
- Pacific Islands Chapter of the Internet Society (PICISOC), Fiji
- Fundación Karisma, Colombia
CADE seeks to strengthen the ability of CSOs to advocate effectively in multilateral and multi stakeholder IG processes. The initiative aims to encourage inclusive participation and to advance a human-centered policy approach in shaping digital policies. ECNL will focus on facilitating greater participation of CSOs in regional and global IG forums and building strategic alliances between the Global North and Global South.
The four-year project, co-funded by the European Union, was officially launched at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. Find more details in the press release.