The 10th Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF23) is set to take place in Nairobi from April 12th to 14th, 2023, with over 500 delegates already registered to attend.
The forum, hosted by Paradigm Initiative, a leading Pan-African digital rights and inclusion organization, aims to bring together key stakeholders within the digital ecosystem to discuss this year’s theme titled “Building a sustainable internet for all.”
Among the confirmed speakers for the event are Emma Inamutila Theofelus, Namibia’s Deputy Minister for Information Communication and Technology (ICT); Grace Githaiga, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Convenor of Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet); ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative; Vladimir Garay, Advocacy Director of Derechos Digitales; and Lawrence Murugu Mute, former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa.
Senior Manager of Partnerships and Engagements at Paradigm Initiative, Thobekile Matimbe is betting on the forum to advance internet freedom
“The interest the forum has received so far from speakers and delegates worldwide clearly shows the event is timely and necessary. We look forward to hosting delegates and hope the exciting launches and deliberations will empower all stakeholders to do their part in the advancement of Internet freedom,” Matimbe said.
The forum will feature 70 sessions from partners in 23 countries, covering themes such as internet shutdowns, universal service fund utilization, data protection, content moderation, and censorship.
In addition to the sessions, key launches of research, platforms, and networks are also planned.
The event is being hosted in collaboration with KICTANet and sponsored by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ford Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Google, and the Global Network Initiative (GNI).
Last year’s DRIF, under the theme “Towards a Digitally Inclusive Africa”, was a hybrid event that reached 1,300 individuals through physical sessions hosted in 17 African countries.
The 2023 in-person event will take place at the Sarova Stanley Hotel and will also be live-streamed on Paradigm Initiative’s YouTube page, ParadigmHQ.