12th Edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF25) Launched
The 12th edition of the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) has officially launched. This annual event, which gathers hundreds of delegates from NGOs, academia, media, funding partners, the United Nations, the technical community, government, and the private sector, will take place in Lusaka, Zambia, from April 29th to May 1st, 2025.
Each year, Paradigm Initiative (PIN), a pan-African nonprofit organization, collaborates with key partners to host this influential forum. Partners for the 2025 edition include Bloggers of Zambia, Common Cause Zambia, Internews Network Zambia, Zambian Cybersecurity Initiative Foundation (ZCSI), Internet Society Zambia, Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), and the Ministry of Technology and Science. The theme for DRIF25, announced during the launch, is “Promoting Digital Ubuntu in Approaches to Technology.”
Since its inception in 2013, PIN and its partners have successfully organized 11 Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum forums. The 2024 edition in Accra, Ghana, attracted 1,044 registered attendees and delegates from 61 countries, while DRIF 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, saw participation from 601 individuals from 54 countries.
Speaking at the launch of DRIF25, ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, emphasized the critical role of the Internet as the “last standing civic space in the Global South.” He underscored the need for safeguarding this space, stating, “Next year, from April 29th to May 1st, we will gather here in Lusaka, Zambia, to discuss our battles and the necessity of protecting civic spaces. There is an urgent need to preserve this civic space.”
Sesan also called on African countries to focus on safeguarding their electoral systems, rather than engaging in external conflicts. He criticized the tendency of some nations to restrict Internet access or enact laws that legalize authoritarian measures, saying, “When I see ‘national security’ in any policy, I will question it.”
Richard Mulonga, CEO of Bloggers of Zambia, echoed this call for vigilance in the digital space, declaring, “We are freedom fighters in our own way. Every morning, we must fight for digital freedom in our own contexts and for African democracy.”
Mulonga encouraged citizens to remain vigilant about the enforcement of digital policies, adding that DRIF25 would showcase Zambia as a host for the global digital rights community.
Brenda Zulu, Digital Safety Coordinator at Internews Network Zambia, expressed her organization’s excitement about partnering with PIN to host DRIF25. She highlighted that Internews would offer tailored safety guidance and enhance tools for digital security throughout the forum.
The Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum is a pivotal platform for shaping digital policy in Africa, where crucial policy directions are debated and collaborative actions are forged. The forum has established itself as a key space for addressing global issues on digital rights and inclusion, drawing perspectives from civil society, tech companies, government, academia, and other stakeholders.
