27 November
CIPESA and SMEX will present new evidence from civil society on digital rights at the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review pre-session on 27 November. Their interventions, delivered at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, draw on stakeholder reports jointly prepared with APC. The session is part of the 51st UPR Pre-Session, which runs from 26 to 28 November.
The submissions focus on how digital technologies are shaping the human rights landscape in two very different contexts. CIPESA examines Rwanda’s digital environment, highlighting patterns that affect freedom of expression, access to information, and online participation. SMEX examines Lebanon, where connectivity challenges, regulatory gaps, and restrictions on online speech continue to shape the country’s digital rights landscape. Both reports outline areas where states can strengthen protections and ensure that digital governance aligns with international human rights standards.
