Geneva - Monday, March 4, 2013
Roundtable with civil society organizations involved in human rights
Afternoon seminar organized by Gmedia Center. Geneva is one of the global centers of human rights activities, and as such has a wealth of NGOs engaged in human rights work around the world. At this event the Fellows will meet with select representatives of civil society to share experiences on human rights work, both in Geneva and in the field. Participation is by invitation only. Interested NGOs should contact Gmedia
Geneva - Tuesday, March 5, 2013
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. The Importance of an Open and Multi-Stakeholder Internet to Freedom of Expression and Economic Growth - What’s at Stake in Africa? Public Forum at Geneva Press Club in partnership with the Internet Society Attendance is open. If you wish to attend in person, please sign up via our registration page or you can Join the interactive video webcast
Why is a free and multi-stakeholder internet so important for Africa’s future? What is the significance of this framework for freedom of expression , economic opportunity and innovation, and the defense of human rights and democratic freedoms? As the world comes to grips with the importance of maintaining an open and multi-stakeholder internet, this panel will focus on the particular challenges for Africa and why an enabling Internet environment is so relevant today for Africa’s future tomorrow. What has been the experience of Kenya’s ICT sector? What is the situation in west Africa? In Ghana and Nigeria? Does north Africa present different or similar challenges? How can the international community support and work with African nations’ to prate and strengthen a free, open and multi-stakeholder internet governance framework? These are some of the issues to be address in this timely discussion of one of the most important issues facing Africa and the international community today.
Panel includes:- Jillian York (Director International Freedom of Expression, Electronic Frontier Foundation)
- Prof David Souter, (Managing Director, ict Development Associates, Visiting Professor in Communications Management, Business School, University of Strathclyde, Visiting Senior Fellow, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics & Political Science)
- Nicolas Siedler (Policy Advisor at the Internet Society ISOC
- Internet Freedom Fellows from Nigeria, Ghana and Sudan
Geneva - Wednesday, March 6
Peer Forum - The Human Voices of Freedom – Securing Human Rights Online 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.A full day workshop with UN representatives, civil society, technologists and other social media experts, Geneva press and officials engaged in human rights work. Speakers and panelists include Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Office of Secretary of State, Kathleen Reen, Vice President, global internet initiatives, Internews, Dr Farida Vis - University of Sheffield, inaugural winner Data Journalism award, co-author on the Data Journalism Handbook, Jon Vidar – Cofounder & Executive Director, The Tiziano Project / Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism , Storiesfrom.us, Alison Klayman Director of the Documentary "Ai WeiWei Never Sorry," Adelina von Fuerstenberg, President and Founder of the NGO Art for the World, past and present Internet Freedom Fellows, and colleagues, technologists and social media professionals from across Geneva. See the Full Program
This event will be held at the U.S. Mission and is by invitation only. Please contact us for further information.
Geneva - Thursday, March 7
1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Human Rights Council side event -- “Securing Human Rights Online”A public event at the United Nations sponsored by the U.S. Mission with Ambassador Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, Alec Ross, Senior Advisor for Innovation in the Office of Secretary of State, Kathleen Reen, Internews Vice President, global internet initiatives, and Internet Freedom Fellows from Russia and China. Open to the public. If you do not have a UN badge, please register on our event page. You can also Join the interactive video webcast
Room XXIII at the Palais des Nations
8:30 p.m. - Screening of Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry at 8:30 p.m at the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights Maison des Arts Gruetli followed by a panel discussion on Human Rights in China Registrations via the FIFDH website.Geneva - Friday, March 8
2 pm Panel discussion hosted by Webster University with Graduate and Post Graduate students from Communications and Media , International, Relations and International NGO programs. This program is by invitation only.
Washington D.C.- Monday and Tuesday, March 11-12 The program in Washington, D.C. involves public and private events with a wide range of government and civil society representatives engaged with policy development and implementation related to human rights and the internet, including the National Endowment for Democracy, Internews, the Global Network Initiative, the Freedom Forum, the Better World Campaign, the Department of State, and the Internet Society. If you have any questions about the D.C. program, please contact our core-partner Meridian International Center through Monica Boulter, . Please check back periodically for updates.Washington D.C.- Monday, March 11
10 am Round table discussion, hosted at the National Endowment for Democracy: The Center for International Media Assistance, on NED Programs and the fellows current work and priorities. Speakers will address current program initiatives, discuss the state of Internet freedom globally, current funding priorities, defending civil society issues, including freedom of assembly online, and youth and LGBT issues. They will also discuss the role of independent media. Fellows will have an opportunity to network with NED colleagues and determine areas of collaboration. This is a closed meeting. 12:30-2:00 pm Better World Campaign and the United Nations Association of the USA Lunch and a panel discussion on Protecting International Freedom of Expression on the Internet. Speakers will include the U.S. Mission to the UN’s Internet Freedom Fellows: Michael Anti, Journalist and advocate for internet freedom in China, Usamah Mohamed, Blogger and human rights activist in Sudan, and Bronwen Robertson, Author, “LGBT Republic of Iran: An Online Reality?”, and Stephen Jordan, Senior Partner, IO Sustainability Commissioner, U.S. National Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The program is being moderated by Jordie Hannum, Director, Better World Campaign. Please join us for this event at the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2322. An R.S.V.P. is REQUIRED – Space is limited and on a first come, first serve basis. Please email or call (202) 419-3223 to reserve a space. 1:30pm Informational meeting with Internews, an international non-profit organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect and the means to make their voices heard. This is a closed meeting. 4:00 pm Fellows will meet with the Global Network Initiative’s to discuss Business and Human Rights in the Digital Era: Protecting Freedom of Expression and Privacy in the Information and Communications Technology Sector. GNI is a multi-stakeholder group of companies, civil society organizations (including human rights and press freedom groups), investors and academics, who have created a collaborative approach to protect and advance freedom of expression and privacy in the ICT sector. A list of all of GNI’s participants can be found at the following site, http://globalnetworkinitiative.org/participants/index.php. Participation in this meeting is by invitation only.Washington D.C.- Tuesday, March 12
9:30 am Fellows will have a high level meeting at the Freedom Forum to discuss the role and history of the first amendment in the U.S. and the role journalist plays in protecting civil rights and liberties. Fellows will have an opportunity to also tour the Newseum following the meeting. This is a closed meeting. 1:30 pm Fellows will meet with representatives of the Department of State’s Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and the office of eDiplomacy. Throughout the program, Fellows will have an opportunity to discuss their efforts and priorities, while learning about the work of the Department of State and the intersection of human rights and technology. Participation in this meeting is by invitation only. 6:00-7:30 pm - SIX HEROES OF THE INTERNET The DC Chapter of the Internet Society, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State, the Meridian Center, and George Mason University's Terrorism, Transnational Crime, and Corruption Center (TraCCC) present an informal discussion hosted by George Mason University, School of Public Policy, Arlington Campus Room 118, Founders Hall, 3351 Fairfax Drive, Arlington VA 22201 Closest Metro Stop Virginia Square on Orange Line http://traccc.gmu.edu/ The recent World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai highlighted how eager some governments are to control what is said and done on the Internet. But bloggers, online journalists, activists, and ISPs are working hard to route around firewalls and filters. Join us for a chance to talk with six courageous people fighting for freedom of speech online:Mac-Jordan Disu-Degadjor (Ghana), Blogging Ghana, Michael Anti (China), blogger, Edetaen Ojo (Nigeria), Director, The Media Rights Agenda, Grigory Okhotin (Russia), ndependent journalist and co-founder of the grassroots police monitoring organization OVD-info, Usamah Mohamed (Sudan) citizen journalist and contributor to Global Voices, Bronwen Robertson (New Zealand), Director of Operations, Small Media For more details and to register to attend, visit InternetHeroes.eventbrite.com