Continuing my recap of the 13th edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum
If Day 1 set the tone, Days 2 and 3 deepened the conversation moving from big-picture themes into the specific, sometimes uncomfortable realities of what it means to fight for digital rights on the ground. By the time the closing ceremony wrapped up, it was clear that DRIF26 had delivered far more than a conference. It had delivered a call to action.
Day 2: Protecting the Most Vulnerable — Children in the Digital Space
Day 2 brought one of the most important conversations of the entire forum to the forefront the digital rights of children. In a world where young people are among the most active users of digital spaces, yet among the least protected, the sessions on child rights were a timely and necessary addition to the DRIF26 agenda.
The discussions challenged attendees to think beyond access because getting children online is only half the battle. The harder questions are: What are they exposed to when they get there? Who is protecting them? And are our laws, platforms, and communities keeping pace with the risks they face?
It was a sobering but vital conversation, and one that deserves to continue long after the forum ends.
And then came the moment many had been waiting for.
The Launch of the LONDA Report
The highlight of Day 2 and arguably one of the standout moments of the entire forum was the official launch of the LONDA Report. The LONDA Report represents an important body of work tracking the state of digital rights across Africa, and its launch at DRIF26 felt fitting a forum dedicated to inclusion and resilience, presenting a document that holds power to account.
The launch was a reminder that advocacy without evidence is incomplete. Data matters. Documentation matters. And reports like LONDA give the digital rights community the tools to make their case where it counts most.
Day 3: Research, Resistance, and a Closing to Remember
Day 3 arrived with an academic energy and a sense of urgency, as the forum moved into its final stretch.
Bridging Academia and Advocacy
One of the most thought-provoking sessions of the day centered on building a research community specifically, how to find the nexus between academic research and advocacy work. This is a gap that has long existed in the digital rights space, and the conversation was an honest one.
Academics and advocates often speak different languages, move at different paces, and measure success differently. But when they work together, the results are powerful research that is rigorous and relevant, advocacy that is evidence-based and credible. The session made a compelling case that closing this gap is not just desirable, it is necessary.
Communicating Digital Rights Under Suppression
Perhaps the most sobering session of Day 3 tackled a reality that many digital rights defenders know all too well — what does it mean to communicate about digital rights when the very act of speaking up puts you at risk?
Whether it is internet shutdowns, surveillance, platform censorship, or legal threats against journalists and activists, the suppression of digital rights communication is a growing challenge across the continent and beyond. The session was a powerful tribute to the courage of those who continue to speak, document, and advocate in environments that would rather they stay silent.
It was a humbling reminder of why forums like DRIF26 exist and why the work is far from over.
The Closing Ceremony: An End and a Beginning
As the closing ceremony brought the 13th edition of DRIF to a close, the room carried the weight of three days of honest, challenging, and inspiring conversation. From children’s rights to AI governance, from the LONDA Report to research communities, from resilience to suppression, DRIF26 covered the full spectrum of what it means to fight for a digital world that works for everyone.
The forum may have ended, but the conversations it started are just beginning.
Thank you for following along on this journey through DRIF26. The work continues and so does the speaking up.
#DRIF26 #DigitalRights #InclusiveDigitalFutures #LONDA
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