FIFAfrica25 and its UPRoar workshop in Windhoek spotlight digital rights and the role of the Universal Periodic Review
The 12th Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25) hosted by Windhoek, Namibia, convened policymakers, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, media practitioners, regulators, and researchers to examine how rights in the digital environment can be better protected and promoted. A dedicated UPRoar Project workshop brought renewed attention to the potential of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) to strengthen digital rights advocacy across the continent.
FIFAfrica25, organised by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), took place against the backdrop of Namibia’s strong record on press freedom and its ongoing efforts to modernise its digital policy and legal frameworks. Recent judicial rulings upholding public rights in corruption reporting and telecom oversight, as well as the continent’s high rankings on global freedom indices, have helped frame discussions on the continent’s broader digital rights landscape. Participants explored emerging risks, the implications of technologies such as AI, and persistent challenges, including internet shutdowns during elections and public assemblies.
The UPRoar Project workshop, supported by the CADE project co-funded by the European Union and officially opened by EU Ambassador to Namibia, H.E. Anna Beatriz Martins, offered a focused platform to examine how the UPR mechanism can advance transparent, accountable, and inclusive digital governance. Civil society representatives and policymakers reflected on successes and shortcomings in past UPR cycles, identifying where governments have made progress and where further engagement is needed to ensure that commitments related to online freedoms, data protection, and access to information are upheld.
The conference pointed to the growing convergence between internet freedom debates and human rights monitoring processes. Discussions highlighted the importance of affordable and open internet access, the urgency of updating regulatory frameworks, and the value of the UPR as a complementary tool that can elevate digital rights concerns in both national and international policy arenas. Together, these exchanges underscored the importance of sustained multistakeholder engagement in shaping an inclusive and rights-respecting digital future for the continent.
