Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 1: Kettie Kahume, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Sanyu Agnes Mulungi , Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Diana Karungi, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Sanyu Agnes Mulungi , Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Diana Karungi, Civil Society, African Group
Format
Classroom
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This session format is best suited for our activity because it can host a capacity of 25 to 30 participants, foster active interactions in dialogue directly between the participants and the speakers as we dive in depth about the topical discussions.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: This session format is best suited for our activity because it can host a capacity of 25 to 30 participants, foster active interactions in dialogue directly between the participants and the speakers as we dive in depth about the topical discussions.
Policy Question(s)
• How can the legal framework (policy makers) support the increase and optimization of digital technologies towards ensuring womxn’s inclusion, involvement, participation, impact and engagement in political and civic engagements?
• What are the emerging legal and policy issues/ gaps that we should be concerned about? How will the impact or influence the political engagement and participation for womxn online?
• With the fast integration of AI systems, what policy mechanisms or strategies can be put in place to mitigate the speculated rise in cyberattacks and online violence as womxn navigate digital spaces for their political advocacy or activism?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Through this participatory and interactive discussion, The participants will;
• Increased awareness and understanding of barriers, importance and opportunities for womxn to partake in political engagements and democratic processes online.
• Knowledge in practical skills when it comes to advocacy and safe online engagement through inspiration from positive realities shared in the space.
• An array of actionable strategies that will encourage digital inclusion of all womxn in political participation and engagement as they counter surveillance and censorship before, during and after election periods.
Description:
In previous election periods (2016 and 2021), digital platforms and technologies have offered womxn benefits to access information, political organizing, mobilization, advocacy, engagement, e-campaigning, visibility, involvement in civic and political discourse as they hold government and others in power accountable, partake in calls to action and petitions for policies, legal reforms and other issues that significantly concern them. However, challenges such as the widening gender digital divide, gaps in digital literacy and safety knowledge, online violence and Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) cases, internet restrictions and shutdowns, surveillance, censorship, gender-based disinformation through smear campaigns and hate speech, increasingly affect and alienate womxn from fully leveraging and optimizing digital tools and platforms when it comes to political engagements and democratic processes online especially during the election period, aggravated by the laxity in enforcement of the existing cyber laws confined within the constantly restrictive legal framework. Under the sub theme, Building Universal Access and Digital Rights, the objective of this proposed session will be to accelerate action towards bridging the gender digital divide to enhance political participation and engagement of womxn in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections. It will explore topics concerning; contextualizing the gender digital divide in political participation, diverse experiences, challenges, opportunities and strategies for womxn that will increase and strengthen their inclusion, participation, impact and engagement in political and civic discussion online as we gear up for 2026 general elections in Uganda. We propose that the session takes 1 1/2 hours and target feminists, womxn human rights activists, civil society, digital rights activists and policy makers. It will be participatory and open to the audience to encourage experience sharing and learning from the diverse contexts in the room that will inspire all attendees to claim a safe political and civic space for all womxn online.
In previous election periods (2016 and 2021), digital platforms and technologies have offered womxn benefits to access information, political organizing, mobilization, advocacy, engagement, e-campaigning, visibility, involvement in civic and political discourse as they hold government and others in power accountable, partake in calls to action and petitions for policies, legal reforms and other issues that significantly concern them. However, challenges such as the widening gender digital divide, gaps in digital literacy and safety knowledge, online violence and Technology Facilitated Gender Based Violence (TFGBV) cases, internet restrictions and shutdowns, surveillance, censorship, gender-based disinformation through smear campaigns and hate speech, increasingly affect and alienate womxn from fully leveraging and optimizing digital tools and platforms when it comes to political engagements and democratic processes online especially during the election period, aggravated by the laxity in enforcement of the existing cyber laws confined within the constantly restrictive legal framework. Under the sub theme, Building Universal Access and Digital Rights, the objective of this proposed session will be to accelerate action towards bridging the gender digital divide to enhance political participation and engagement of womxn in Uganda ahead of the 2026 elections. It will explore topics concerning; contextualizing the gender digital divide in political participation, diverse experiences, challenges, opportunities and strategies for womxn that will increase and strengthen their inclusion, participation, impact and engagement in political and civic discussion online as we gear up for 2026 general elections in Uganda. We propose that the session takes 1 1/2 hours and target feminists, womxn human rights activists, civil society, digital rights activists and policy makers. It will be participatory and open to the audience to encourage experience sharing and learning from the diverse contexts in the room that will inspire all attendees to claim a safe political and civic space for all womxn online.
Expected Outcomes
The session's expected outcomes include;
• Increased awareness and understanding by the participants about the impact of digital barriers and their impact, emphasize the opportunities and strategies that will foster womxn’s participation, involvement and engagement as their voices are amplified in political and civic discourse online.
• We plan on updating our publication, “Womxn’s Rights and ICTs: A guide to navigating cyber laws in Uganda” that was published in 2022. The session will contribute to this initiative considering the constantly changing legal environment.
Specific outputs will be;
• A report on the workshop summarizing the key discussions, insights, and recommendations.
• A blog article will be developed and shared on our website at; https://www.herinternet.org/ which will highlight the outcomes of the session and amplify HER Internet’s work in advocacy and policy influence.
Hybrid Format: We will facilitate interaction between onsite and online speakers and attendees through;
• In-person interactions that will be livestreamed and recorded via Zoom.
• Share insightful quotes from speakers to keep our X social media account audience engaged.
• Moderated by HER Internet’s staff to bridge communication, information and technical gaps between virtual and physical attendees.
We will design the session to ensure the best possible experience for online and onsite participants by;
• Having an agenda that will guide the flow of the workshop.
• Having both in-person and online moderators to balance the discussion and encourage feedback in real time.
• Share key takeaways and insights through a blog article which will be published on our official website.
Complementary online tools/platforms that we plan to use to increase participation and interaction during the session are our official social media platforms (X, YouTube channel and LinkedIn).