International advocacy of the project Informed and Resilient: Actions against disinformation and digital violence in Paraguay for the defense of human rights.

In an increasingly digital world and in a national context that constantly threatens fundamental rights, protecting our human rights in digital environments becomes a primary task.

In Paraguay, these challenges have increased in recent years, directly impacting women, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists.Faced with this reality, the Informed and Resilient project aims to promote the protection of human rights and enhance the quality of public debate. It does so by providing people with access to verified information, strengthening the capacities of human rights defenders and journalists to exercise their rights in a safe digital environment, as well as combating disinformation and digital violence.

To that end, we have undertaken a series of actions aimed at making an international impact to ensure proper respect for our human rights. In this regard, we highlight our key participations in various forums and meetings held throughout 2024 as part of the project. These aimed to reaffirm our commitment and over 10 years of work in digital rights, technology-facilitated gender violence, freedom of expression, and democracy in Paraguay.

March

In March we co-led two key events at the NGO Committee on the Status of Women (NGO CSW68)in New York. The workshop “Perpetrator Data and Evaluating OGBV Tools Workshops”^¹ allowed us to collect feedback and work on a roadmap for researchers on online gender-based violence perpetrators. This roadmap was developed by TEDIC in partnership with various member organizations of the Women Rights Online Coalition (WRO). Representatives from civil society, academia and major technology platforms such as Google and Meta participated in this event.

As a second activity within the framework of CSW68 we participated in the meeting “Expanding OGBV Fight: Addressing Digital Exploitation with Male Allies in Tech in Global South Contexts”^² in collaboration with the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Breaking Silence Movement. The event focused on reflecting on various strategies to involve more allies in the fight against technology-facilitated gender violence. At TEDIC, we shared various advocacy strategies through our research, strategic litigation, communication campaigns, and capacity-building efforts for public and private actors, aiming to raise greater awareness about technology-facilitated gender violence and the profound impact it has on the lives of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ individuals who experience it daily.

April

In April, our participation in the virtual consultation with Pedro Vaca, the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (RELE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS, led by Dr. Alejandra Peralta Merlo, marked a milestone in our national advocacy on this issue^³. In. During the consultation, we presented our concerns and recommendations regarding Law 5777/16 and its distortion by some judges, which affects freedom of expression^⁴.

We also took an active part in the NETmundial+10 meeting in São Paulo, Brazil^⁵. The purpose of this meeting was to review and build consensus on a document developed collaboratively and openly by members of various stakeholder groups from countries around the world. The event was organized by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee^⁶ and led by the High Level Executive Committee (HLEC). TEDIC collaborated in the preliminary consultation in partnership with four other organizations from Latin America, through AlSur^⁷. Over the course of two days of meetings, each stakeholder provided input, enabling civil society to incorporate detailed aspects of how Internet governance should function.

Some highlights include:

The reaffirmation that the Internet is a global resource that should be managed in the public interest.
The ongoing relevance of the 10 principles for Internet governance processes adopted in 2014, extending their applicability to address emerging challenges in digital policy.
Operational guidelines for implementing these principles in various contexts.
Contributions to various ongoing processes regarding evolving governance architecture for digital issues.
Fostering meaningful collaboration among stakeholders at different stages of decision-making processes, particularly in multilateral digital policy mechanisms
Generate spaces for discussion, transparency, clarity of results and capabilities in the governance system.

The outcome was very positive, being the first document that outlines ways of working with multiple stakeholders. The final document aims to serve as a guide for the implementation of new processes and to contribute to existing processes regarding the Internet.

In parallel to NetMundial, the G20 global thematic meeting on information integration was held in São Paulo. TEDIC participated in the first day of the event, focused on the central debate on disinformation^⁸ The agenda addressed the challenge of mitigating disinformation through conversations among multiple stakeholders from around the world, including policy makers, civil society and academia.

The main points of this thematic axis were:

What topics should unite the Global South in the debate about information integrity?
What common issues among our countries should be prioritized in a joint agenda?
What other forums are needed for our countries to address this problem together?
Are the current spaces, including multilateral forums and existing coalitions, sufficient?

Our participation in this dialogue highlights our commitment to promoting information integrity and fighting against disinformation, working collaboratively with global actors to find effective and sustainable solutions.

May

In May, a key meeting was held in Santiago, Chile, which became the epicenter of press freedom with the 31st World Press Freedom Conference focused on journalism and freedom of expression in light of the global environmental crisis.

Continuing with our digital rights agenda, we participated in the panel on the Latin American initiative “Más poder a las personas. Menos poder de las grandes plataformas digitales”^⁹, a regional proposal aimed at pushing for the regulation of large digital platforms, seeking to strengthen the exercise of Freedom of Expression and public debate on the Internet.During the panel, we shared our work on how to think of solutions from the Global South for content moderation and the mitigation of disinformation on large Internet platforms. The core messages of this panel were:

Protecting freedom of expression online: large digital platforms have significant power in our society, but their lack of control poses a risk to freedom of expression. It is crucial to set limits on their unilateral decisions to guarantee users’ rights.
Transparency and accountability: regulating digital platforms is necessary to ensure transparency in their content moderation processes and the functioning of their algorithms. Their lack of transparency threatens democracy and economic development.
Empowerment through rights: users must have more control over their online activity and access to information. Currently, these decisions are in the hands of large foreign companies, which limits participation in public debate.
Democratic regulation: the regulation of platforms must be democratic and represent the interests of local citizens. We cannot allow decisions on public discourse to be imposed from other countries.
Latin American voice: it is important for us to unite as a Latin American voice to propose effective regulations based on our realities and institutions, leveraging international experience but tailoring it to our needs.
Extractivist model and suffocation of local media: large digital platforms operate under an extractivist model that exploits our data and suffocates local media. Their algorithm favors inflammatory messages, affecting our ability to reach political and social agreements.
Platform lobbying: large platforms invest resources in propaganda and lobbying to avoid regulations that protect users. Their influence can even reach the media, making it difficult to implement protective measures.

In this conference, we emphasized the need for a more inclusive and democratic approach to regulating digital platforms to protect and strengthen freedom of expression in our region.

We also actively participated in the XLIII Meeting of High Authorities on Human Rights of the MERCOSUR (RAADH) in the sessions of the Permanent Commission on Gender and Women’s Human Rights and the Dialogue of High Authorities with Civil Society Organizations.^¹⁰. During the sessions, topics addressed included masculinities free of violence with a gender and human rights perspective, the right to care, the fight against human trafficking and the participation of women in political life.

During the civil society participation segment we presented our research on the “Roadmap for researchers on online gender-based violence perpetrators” and “From theory to practice: creating and testing a common framework for definitions of online gender-based violence and other terms”^¹¹ to identify research gaps and generate knowledge on online gender-based violence perpetrators, definitions and types.

June

In June as part of our participation in the 54th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) we had the opportunity to be part of a meeting regarding the human rights situation in Paraguay, organized by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)^¹².The meeting was attended by prominent representatives of the IACHR, such as Commissioner José Luis Caballero, Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders; Pedro Vaca, Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression; and Javier Palummo, Special Rapporteur on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ESCR). TEDIC presented the current challenges facing Paraguay in terms of digital rights and freedom of expression.We took this opportunity to present our research on Law 5777/16^¹³ to rapporteur Pedro Vaca, highlighting the negative impacts this interpretation has had on press freedom in the country. In our speech, we emphasized the need to protect the rights of journalists and ensure a legal framework that doesn’t unduly restrict freedom of expression.

Additionally, TEDIC participated in a side event on strengthening democracy, engaging in a dialogue focused on promoting information integrity and defending the Inter-American Democratic Charter. On this occasion, discussions were held on the potential of the Internet to spread disinformation and on experiences in combating online disinformation, while defending fundamental freedoms and the conditions necessary for an open and free Internet. In this regard, OAS Member States shared their contributions of best practices and committed to strengthening their national and regional capacities, as well as participating more actively in regional and international forums discussing issues related to online content governance.

Additionally, TEDIC actively participated in the initiative “OEA kuñanguéra roma’ẽ penderehe” (OEA women are watching) as a parallel event to the 54th General Assembly of the OAS. A coalition of more than 30 feminist organizations was formed, uniting their voices to demand greater commitment to defending the rights of women and the TLGBIQ+ community in Paraguay^¹⁴. Among the highlighted actions, we participated in a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where we delivered a letter addressed to the Chancellor demanding the protection of women’s rights, raising awareness about the fight against digital violence, and advocating for the celebration of the Women’s General Assembly to assert our rights.

In terms of cybersecurity, TEDIC participated in the launch of the WiCE (Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network) organized by the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE) of the OAS and its cybersecurity program^¹⁵. WiCE is a network of women and women-identifying professionals in cybersecurity across the Americas. It aims to foster a regional cybersecurity culture that is gender-sensitive and inclusive, promote the empowerment of women in the tech field and close the gender gap. This initiative is dedicated to fostering community, collaboration and support for women in cybersecurity across the Americas and the Caribbean through mentoring, knowledge sharing and networking opportunities. On this occasion, TEDIC confirmed its registration in the WiCE network to continue strengthening the support community for women in tech and to seek new ways to balance the distribution of resources and opportunities in the sector.

We also actively participated in the II Seminario Big Tech, Información y Democracia, in Bogotá, Colombia^¹⁶.The activity, carried out by OBSERVACOM and the Foro I&D, brings together experts and members of digital rights and freedom of expression organizations from the region and Colombia to discuss the democratic regulation of large digital platforms, the economic regulation of big tech, the impact of recommendation algorithms on journalism and pluralism, as well as the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in information and communication spaces. TEDIC participated in the panel “Iniciativas de regulación democrática de las grandes plataformas digitales” alongside the Coalizão Direitos na Rede (Brazil), UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace Colombia, El Veinte (Colombia), and the Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (CELE).

July

In July, we were selected to join the Workshop Selection Committee (WSC) of the Latin America and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF)^¹⁷. Following an open call that received applications from 74 people across 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, the LACIGF Multi-Stakeholder Committee carried out a rigorous selection process. Criteria such as experience, geographical diversity, multi-sectoral involvement, and gender diversity were taken into account. As a result, 12 professionals from the technical, private, civil society, and government sectors will make up the CST starting this year, with terms of 3, 2, and 1 year based on the voting received.

We were speakers at the course on human rights and new technologies, focusing on repercussions, risks, and protection from a regional perspective^¹⁸. This course is a training initiative organized by the MERCOSUR Institute of Public Policies on Human Rights (IPPDH) as part of the activities of its International School.The main goal of the course is to train relevant actors from the public sector, members of organizations and social movements, as well as individuals from academia, on the impacts of new digital communication and information technologies on human rights, along with the risks and challenges they pose. We taught the Module 3 class on mass media and new technologies. In this module, we analyzed the convergence of mass media and new technologies and their impact on human rights, highlighting issues such as digital and online gender violence. We also discussed the role of digital platforms and social networks in transforming the process of production, distribution and access to information, as well as their influence on freedom of expression, information diversity and citizen participation. Furthermore, we discussed the ethical and legal challenges associated with the use of algorithms, online disinformation, digital surveillance, the manipulation of public opinion, and strategies to foster more inclusive and transparent media communication on human rights in today’s digital landscape.

August

In August we participated in the third edition of the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Week”, which focused on exploring the findings of the Global Responsible AI Index and reflecting collaboratively with experts from different countries on how to build AI governance centered on human rights^¹⁹. This event was organized by the Iniciativa Latinoamericana por los Datos Abiertos (ILDA)^²⁰ which has a line of work aimed at contributing to and fostering the responsible use of technologies. To achieve this, it is essential to rethink how data structures and infrastructures operate, as they are fundamental inputs for developing AI tools in this new digital era.

We were panelists in the discussion “Derechos humanos y gobernanza de la IA en Latinoamérica” where we shared the current status of Paraguay’s regulations related to Internet governance and the future challenges for our country. The opportunity to engage with key people in the field allowed us to examine the critical human rights gaps in the current state of AI regulation and development. Additionally, we collectively thought about how to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration to ensure a present and future where AI does not exacerbate inequalities. The series of discussions took place through multi-sectoral alliances between civil society, academia, the private sector, and governments, all aimed at ensuring the development of technologies for the common good.

As part of AlSur’s annual meeting, we participated in training workshops and meetings that brought together representatives of civil society, academia, journalists, and other experts from the region to discuss human rights on the Internet^²¹. There, we had the opportunity to be panelists and present the topic of gender-based political violence facilitated by technology and its relationship with freedom of expression, highlighting cases from Paraguay, Argentina, and Colombia.

September

We were present at the global meeting and in the parallel events of the Summit of the Future^²² within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly (UN). During these days, world leaders met to adopt the Compact for the Future, which will include as annexes a Global Digital Compact and a declaration on future generations^²³.

The Global Digital Compact (GDC), led by the UN Tech Envoy, aims to establish shared principles for a digital future that is open, free, and secure, addressing issues such as online human rights, connectivity, data protection, and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI)^²⁴. TEDIC, representing AlSur^²⁵, highlighted the importance of considering the differentiated impacts in the Global South within these guidelines. Without these perspectives, decisions on digital governance could perpetuate inequalities instead of fostering positive changes and advancing the achievement of the SDGs, particularly affecting the most vulnerable populations. At that time, we shared and disseminated our contribution to the Global Digital Compact (GDC)^²⁶.

October

In October, we were panelists for the program “Formación para defensores de derechos humanos en el entorno digital” carried out by the Fundación Construir in Bolivia^²⁷. This virtual training initiative seeks to promote open spaces for reflection and public debate regarding civic spaces, digital rights, freedom of expression, and misinformation and its impact on the defense of human rights. Within this training space, we facilitated the panel on activism and the promotion of women’s human rights in the digital space.

November

In November, TEDIC took part in the high-level political dialogue week EU-LAC on digital policies and regulations in Chile^²⁸. This initiative facilitates political dialogue among multiple stakeholders in periodic meetings with representatives from Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) governments and the European Union (EU), as well as representatives from the private sector, civil society and academia. Our involvement in discussions about artificial intelligence included presenting an overview of how this technology is being used in our country and regionally. The main goal of this meeting was to leverage collaborative experience between LAC and the EU and to promote and debate bi-regional activities related to artificial intelligence. At TEDIC, we collaborated on developing an agenda and a roadmap for bi-regional cooperation between the EU and LAC in the field of AI, while also discussing potential governance and cooperation activities for bi-regional collaboration.

As a civil society organization and a member of the civil society coalition of the Forum on Information and Democracy, as well as the Global Forum for Media Development, we contributed to the public consultation on the draft recommendation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council regarding information integrity^²⁹ This was aligned with the highest standards of democratic norms in the global information space, while also ensuring that international human rights obligations are respected.

We also participated in the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Governance Forum (LACIGF) in Santiago, Chile^³⁰. The topics selected for this edition included: artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, human rights, cybersecurity, universal access and meaningful connectivity, digital governance and cooperation, environment and sustainability, education and digital literacy, gender and diversity, as well as ethical and legal challenges^³¹. One of the panels in which we participated was “Por un futuro libre de violencias de género digitales”. In this space, we shared our experience and the work of TEDIC, alongside organizations like Karisma Foundation, Hiperderecho, and Sulá Batsú, in pursuit of collective actions from feminisms that promote a safer and fairer digital environment for the entire region. The other panel was in the session with representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries discussing the “Evaluación de Indicadores de Universalidad de Internet de la UNESCO”, where experiences were shared regarding the application of the Internet Universality Indicators.

As part of our ongoing advocacy as members of the Global Network Initiative (GNI)^³², we participated in the annual GNI meeting and learning forum, which brought together experts from all areas of human rights, technology governance, trust and security, AI, and corporate responsibility^³³. TEDIC actively engaged in discussions framed around the topic “Global Dynamics in Government Demands for Technology: Respecting Digital Rights Amid a Changing Regulatory, Technical, and Political Landscape.”

December

In december we participated in the The Latin American and Caribbean Open Science Forum^³⁴. This forum is considered the regional hub for science, technology and innovation. It is also a platform to discuss, plan and monitor effective policies with the goal of achieving the sustainable development goals of the 2030 agenda. Focused on the central concept of “Science in Dialogue,” the fourth edition of CILAC Forum 2024 provided a space for governments, universities, businesses, researchers, civil society and the media to debate, plan and monitor the integration of science, technology and innovation for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. TEDIC presented our work on issues of access to knowledge and intellectual property on the Internet.

Additionally, we were part of América Abierta 2024, which addressed key topics such as transparency, access to information, open government, civic technologies, data journalism, digital governance, accountability, and equity^³⁵. América Abierta included nationally and internationally significant activities, such as:

AbreLatam and ConDatos: Meetings focused on open data in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Coda.Br: The Brazilian conference on data journalism and digital methods.
Semana Dados BR: A space dedicated to data initiatives in Brazil.
Open Government Meeting: A reflection on open government practices in the region.

At TEDIC, we actively participate in sessions and share our experiences on topics like digital rights, transparency, access to information and technology.

Finally, during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20, TEDIC presented its contributions to the civil society perspective document and proposals to push forward the broader agenda of digital justice.

In 2024, we demonstrated a strong commitment to our international advocacy, working hard to protect and promote digital rights in various spaces, meetings, and global forums. Through our participation in these key events and collaboration with regional and international organizations, we aim to significantly contribute to various discussions about Internet governance, freedom of expression, the fight against misinformation, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Looking ahead, we will continue striving to ensure that public policies reflect and protect human rights in the digital environment, bringing the voice of Paraguayan civil society to the international arena.

1 https://www.tedic.org/csw682024/

2 https://www.tedic.org/expanding-ogbv-fight-addressing-digital-exploitation-with-male-allies-in-tech-in-global-south-contexts/

3 https://x.com/PVacaV/status/1773121697882755583

4 https://www.tedic.org/en/research-on-law-5777-16-exploration-of-6-legal-cases-that-involve-freedom-of-expression-in-paraguay/

5 https://netmundial.br/

6 https://cgi.br/

7 https://netmundial.br/consultation/contributions/3133343930383839353500/detail

8 https://www.g20.org/en/news/brasil-announces-13-host-cities-for-g20-thematic-meetings

9 https://www.tedic.org/31a-conferencia-del-dia-mundial-de-la-libertad-de-prensa-chile/

10 https://www.tedic.org/xliii-reunion-de-altas-autoridades-sobre-derechos-humanos-del-mercosur/

11 https://www.tedic.org/better_data/

12 https://www.tedic.org/oea_cdih_2024/