Today, she was able to train on backup of data as a digital security for Human right activists, journalists etc. It is interesting to know that back up of data is very important as it enables valuable information to be stored in safe places like the external hard drives, cloud ( google severs, drop box) and USB flash etc separately from the originals such that in the event where the original documents are compromised due to virus attacks theft etc, there will still be a copy of your valuables somewhere else.
Training in process
However, there is no one perfect security plan for data. Make a security plan that works for you and for the risk you face. Remember, ” what’s safe today might not be secure tomorrow ” . Hence, it is imperative to continually reevaluate your security practices. Take note that security is a continual process.
The training workshop organized by CYEED and AFRO LEARDERSHIP in Yaounde Azur Hotel on November 1st and 2nd 2019 was a commitment to build capacity for the members of the Cameroon digital rights coalition on Public Awareness Raising Techniques/ Messaging and Communication Strategies. The workshop started at 8am with introduction of participants, followed by a word of welcome from both organizers, Mr. Charles of Afro Leadership and Mme Sophie Ngassa of CYEED. Next, was presentation proper by Mr. Kamdem who drilled the participants on Public awareness raising techniques referred to as tools for positive communication for digital rights advocacy. It was quite an interactive session and exchange of ideas between members of the different CSOs therein present. They all listed the different tools they used both online and offline (like flyers, posters, videos etc) and how they’re used in their different organizations to disseminate information to a wider audience.
GENERAL PARTICIPANTS
The facilitator’s
approach in presentation was amazing. He used videos especially those that
concerns gross human rights violation, security issues to draw the attention of
CSOs on the issues unraveled in our society and how to better
communicate/advocate for such a course. Participants were asked to comment on
lessons learnt from the videos watched, paying particular attention to the
content of the video, emotions conferred, what message was shared by the video,
was it clearly understandable? And what better way to transmit the message.
WATCHING A VIDEOVIDEO TIME
The presentation on day two was on Public Awareness and Self
Awareness. The facilitator defined Self awareness as a skill that anyone can
learn to improve on the right exercises and habits (that is, paying attention
to the way you think, feel and behave). Meanwhile public awareness is the
public level of understanding about the importance and implication of a course
or a topic of common/personal interest. Participants were enlightened on two
ways to focus on in raising public awareness, which included through community
mobilization and specific plan events like open door days, using poster cards
for campaign, websites, social medias, documentaries, influential persons in
society, musicians, bloggers and visiting schools etc. In using planned event
to raise public awareness, a case study was presented to participants in order
to enable them have a better understanding of how plan events work. In the case
study presented, the following questions were asked: what was the event?, Was
your CSO organizer or participant to the event? Why did your team think the
event could be used to reach you target? Do you think your objectives were
achieved? If yes, why and if no, what doesn’t work well? These questions are to
help the implanting organization to improve on its communication strategy.
PRESENTATION ON SELF AWARENESSROUNDING UP
Rounding up, the facilitator advised the participants (CSOs)
who used videos for public awareness to make a video structure not exceeding
three minutes, for posters, it should be simple with keynote message on it,
organizational websites should be simple, having the organizational logo at the
top of the page, clear mission of the organization, its members, pictures
showing activities engaged while avoiding unnecessary details and listing all
partners at the bottom of the page. Day two ended with taking of group pictures,
filling of an evaluation form and participants had a transportation fare of 25000
FRS each.
Our Tech 4 Development programmes play a major role in empowering people to improve their communities via the Internet. These programmes have reached thousandshundreds of people by helping to bring to life community-driven projects that teach digital skills, set up Community Cyber Cafe in remote communities, bridge the digital gender divide, enable continued trust in the Internet, build infrastructure in rural and underserved areas, and connect Indigenous communities.
We currently have running programmes in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.
The Rural Android (RuDroid) Women and Girls project by Denis Miki Foundation is a Digital Empowerment project aimed at putting up Digital infrastructures (Community Cyber Café) in rural communities in order to support community access to the internet. It is a project to teach the women and girls of suburb and under-served communities on how to use a computer and their digital phones to empower themselves.
The expected impact is to train rural women and girls on how to use a computer and record their success stories after every 6 months and run the #RuDroidWomen and #RuDroidGirls campaign to stir up and inspire other rural women and girls to take up computer classes and connect to the varying opportunities found on the internet. We have the pilot project running in Zangtembeng village with support from a U.S. based partner.
The Internet is a virtual space facilitating inter-connectivity among people and machines across the globe; which makes it an ecosystem of its own and not so different from the physical world. The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Internet access is one of the rights that have become inherent to humans. Everyone has a role to play to ensure the web serves humanity. Governments, companies and citizens around the world can help protect the open web as a public good and a basic right for everyone.
In the past few years a number of countries have begun to promote an internet governance model based on the concept of network sovereignty. Network sovereignty holds that governments should have total control of the internet within their borders. This model differs from the current multistakeholder model of internet governance in which governments, civil society, and the technical community are considered equal partners in ensuring that the internet remains one, interoperable, global network. In practice, network sovereignty affords governments the ability to monitor the flow of information online, control the type of content that is accessible, and access user data stored within their jurisdictions.
Throughout January 2017 to March 2017, the government of Cameroon interrupted and shutdown the internet in the two English-speaking regions (North West and South West). This was executed under the pretext of maintaining public order. According to Internet without Boarders (2017), this has since been the longest internet shutdown in the history of Internet interruption in the world. By Economist analysis the ecumenical implications and losses of the cut is estimated to over 440 million F.CFA (US $ 880,000). The Cameroonian government’s institution of Law No 2010/012 of 21 December relating to Cybersecurity and Cyber-criminality in Cameroon, the Law Against Terrorism and the new Penal Code punishes citizens who publish false information including on social media. This situations are practical examples of the network sovereignty and the power it gives a government and also the challenges it has on an entire nation and the world at large.
Network Sovereignty is a threat to an open internet and democracy since it goes against international laws and declarations like the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. The 8th Principle of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms on Privacy says “Everyone has a right to privacy online including the right to control how their personal data is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of. Everyone has the right to communicate anonymously on the Internet and to use appropriate technology to ensure secure, private and anonymous communication”. The concept of network sovereignty goes against the above mentioned principle and Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”.
A new movement of local, national, regional and international leaders made of Civil Society Actors, Organisations and Individuals are now rising for the fight for the existence of an Open Internet which is free, and accessible to all. There are coalitions like the Digital Rights Coalition, Association for Progressive Communications, the Internet Rights Principles and Coalition Campaign and Open Internet for Democracy. It is imperative for everyone to join the movement to ensure a safe and open internet as we are all beneficiaries of the Internet. Denis Miki Foundation is an active member of several of this coalitions and campaigns and encourages all to join in as an individual and/or organisation.
A new movement of local, national, regional and international leaders made of Civil Society Actors, Organisations and Individuals are now rising for the fight for the existence of an Open Internet which is free, and accessible to all. There are coalitions like the Digital Rights Coalition, Association for Progressive Communications, the Internet Rights Principles and Coalition Campaign and Open Internet for Democracy. It is imperative for everyone to join the movement to ensure a safe and open internet as we are all beneficiaries of the Internet. Denis Miki Foundation is an active member of several of this coalitions and campaigns and encourages all to join in as an individual and/or organisation.
