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Group Calls for Robust Legal Frameworks to Uphold Human Rights Online
As countries worldwide commemorate International Human Rights Day, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is calling for the enactment of robust legal frameworks that uphold human rights online.
The organisation underscores the importance of respecting rights and supporting the development and enforcement of laws in a human-rights-respecting manner in the Global South. These include strong data protection laws that safeguard the right to privacy and legislation governing automated decision-making systems to mitigate potential biases. This, PIN adds, would ensure human rights are realised as the future remains secure.
“Governments should address systemic issues that hinder the enjoyment of human rights and take the necessary steps to support an independent judiciary to ensure the impartial administration of justice and upholding the rule of law,” said Bridgette Ndlovu, the organisation’s Partnerships and Engagements Officer.
This year, International Human Rights Day is commemorated under the theme “Our rights, our future, right now.” The theme focuses on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good. Paradigm Initiative (PIN) also highlighted the crucial role of digital rights in safeguarding human dignity and promoting social justice.
In securing a rights-respecting digital future, the organisation applauded the positive developments throughout 2024 and supported efforts to safeguard human rights online. Countries in the Global South, such as Malawi, Ethiopia, and Syria, made notable strides in advancing digital rights by enacting data protection legislation establishing guidelines for processing, storing, and sharing personal data. Botswana repealed its archaic data protection law and adopted a new Data Protection Act.
Equally, enforcement of data protection legislation gained momentum as countries such as Tanzania, in the case of Safari Automotive Limited vs. Godwin Danda, awarded compensation to the data subject after the automobile company published a video clip of the data subject on social media without consent.
In Kenya, taxi hailers Bolt Operations OU and Bolt Support Kenya were fined for failing to properly handle an incident and escalate it according to established protocols. The incident happened when unauthorised parties accessed a data subject’s Bolt driver account, performed fraudulent trips and altered the data subject’s account details, violating the data subject’s right to access personal data and correct false or misleading data.
In Kenya, data subjects were awarded compensation after offenders were found liable for commercial use of data subjects’ personal data without consent. Angola fined offenders who failed to protect data subjects’ personal data from cyber-attacks. Benin published decisions and resolutions that specify the certification of DPOs, and Brazil published two resolutions that define the activities of DPOs and regulate international data transfers.
In Nigeria, in the case of Folashade Moleshin vs United Bank of Africa, a Paradigm Initiative-supported case, the judiciary handed a judgement in favour of the complainant after a data breach reported on PIN’s Ripoti platform, promoting privacy.
PIN acknowledged the judiciary’s role in adjudicating cases brought before the courts and parliamentary oversight in innovations within the justice system, in particular, in Zimbabwe, where parliament produced an adverse report on the Integrated Electronic Case Management system, citing negative consequences for public participation due to limited access to the internet.
The organisation asserted that human rights online are crucial and legislation should be people-centred and provide robust safeguards for personal data, including measures to prevent unauthorised access and surveillance. Countries such as South Africa, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Zambia published National AI Strategies to safeguard human rights from risks that may arise from automated decision-making.
The African Union Executive Council endorsed the Continental AI Strategy and African Digital Compact at the regional level to set the pace and provide a framework for harmonising laws. At the international level, nations adopted the United Nations Global Digital Compact and countries such as Cote d’Ivoire acceded to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. Kenya is also planning to accede to the Convention.
Despite the outlined positive developments, significant challenges remain in the Global South with PIN condemning the actions of countries such as Mozambique, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Comoros, and Kenya, which shut down the internet this year.
These negative actions undermined human rights, suppressed dissent and had a chilling effect on freedom of expression. Going forward, governments ought to halt the practice of internet shutdowns and uphold the right to free expression so that individuals can freely impart information and engage in political discourse in line with the ideals set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
Social impact and industry leaders have called on Global Conglomerates, African Businesses, Philanthropies and Foundations meeting in Davos to support the advancement of social progress for African women and Girls.
Speakers from the ‘Reimagining the Business Case for investing in Africa’ Goals House event (21st January 2025) World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland pictured together left to right: Professor Myriam Sidibe, Founder and Chief Mission Officer, Brands on a Mission; Sophie Hodder, Director and Pillar Lead, Girl Capital Africa at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF); The Honourable Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Trade, Investment, and Industry of Nigeria; Paul Polman, Business Leader, climate and equalities campaigner; Nicola Galombik, Executive Director of Yellowwoods and Payal Dalal, Executive VP of Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
Leaders who attended the two events organised by Brands on a Mission (BoaM), Children’s Investment Finance Foundation (CIFF) and Tiko – a non-profit leveraging technology to transform sexual and reproductive health – emphasised the social and economic advantages that can be won through investment in African women and girls.
BoaM Founder and Chief Mission Officer Professor Myriam Sidibe said, “as a woman and a lifelong advocate for sustainable business practices, I have witnessed the transformative power of investing in Africa’s greatest resource: its girls. They are not only the future of our continent but also the untapped potential that can drive unprecedented economic and social change.”
Investment in women and girls, who make up 50 percent of Africa’s population – makes good business sense with African women and girls driving up to 70 percent of consumer spend and acting as key decision-makers for four out of five products purchased in their households. Protecting the interests of women and girls also protects the interests of economic growth on the African continent.
According to the World Health Organisation, poor access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights services and products is to blame for approximately 73 million induced abortions that take place in Africa while over one million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day. Almost one in three women, across their lifetime have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, or sexual violence by a non-partner and almost half of all abortions are unsafe.
Professor Sidibe said, “in a rapidly evolving global landscape, businesses are increasingly challenged to find meaningful ways to align profit with purpose. Investing in African girls offers a unique opportunity to bridge this gap. By empowering young women through education, skills development, and access to critical resources, we lay the foundation for vibrant markets, resilient communities, and innovative ecosystems.”
The organisers of the two events held at the Goals House and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) tent called for a world in which private sector investment in evidence-based, impact-first initiatives in service of African girls and young women is the norm and not the exception.
The World Economic Forum in Davos brings together government, business, and civil society to address key global and regional challenges such as responding to geopolitical shocks, the climate crisis and stimulating growth to improve living standards.
Speakers at the first event held at the Goals House included moderation by Professor Myriam Sidibe, Founder and Chief Mission Officer, Brands on a Mission with speakers including Paul Polman, Business Leader, climate and equalities campaigner; The Honourable Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Trade, Investment, and Industry of Nigeria; Nicola Galombik, Executive Director of Yellowwoods; Payal Dalal, Executive VP of Global Programs at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth; and Sophie Hodder, Director and Pillar Lead, Girl Capital Africa at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).
The second event at the SDG tent included moderation by Professor Myriam Sidibe, Founder and Chief Mission Officer, Brands on a Mission and speakers including Sophie Hodder, Pillar Lead and Director, Girl Capital Africa – Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President/CEO – One Campaign, Hermann Betten, Chief Corporate Affairs & Communications Officer, Flora Food Group and Benoit Renard, Co-founder & CEO – Tiko.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), has disclosed plans to work with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), to boost the state’s transport system with the development of another rail line.
This was contained in a statement signed by, the Head, Corporate Communication, LAMATA, Mr. Kolawole Ojelabi in Lagos.
Ojelabi said that the AfDB Vice President, Private Sector Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Mr. Solomon Quaynor, gave the assurance during a visit to LAMATA.
He added that the bank was interested in partnering LAMATA to expand the capacity of the existing rail system.
“Quaynor was also in the company of the Non-Sovereign Operations and Private Sector Equity Specialist, Mr Mayowa Ayodele ahead of a visit of the technical team to assess the Purple line,” he said.
The Purple Line is a 60-kilometre railroad along the Redemption Camp in Ogun State, traversing Berger, Agege and Alimosho and terminate at Volkswagen to join the Blue Line.
“The visit follows a recent pitch for investment on 60-kilometre Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Purple Line at the African Development Bank forum in Morocco, where the Lagos delegation was led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This is to further discuss collaboration on the project and other lines outlined in the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan. The delegation toured the LRMT Blue Line and expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Blue Line rail system,” he said.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government the 36 states over the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024.
SERAP is arguing that “the repressive use of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 by the government to criminalize legitimate expression violate the human rights of Nigerians, including activists, journalists, bloggers and social media users”.
In a statement on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP, explained that the suit was filed to stop the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s 36 governors from using the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalize legitimate expression and punish Nigerians, including social media users.
He said: “Rather than using the amended legislation to make cyberspace and its users safer, Nigerian authorities are routinely weaponizing it to curb Nigerians’ human rights and media freedom.
“The suit no: ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025 was filed last week before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja.”
Recall that Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court had on March 25, 2022, declared Section 24 of Nigeria’s original Cybercrimes Act 2015 as “arbitrary, vague, and repressive.”
The court ordered Nigeria to repeal the provision, citing non-compliance with human rights obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Although the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 repealed Section 24, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) argues that the reworded provisions still infringe upon freedom of expression and information.
SERAP’s concerns center around the ambiguity of “causing a breakdown of law and order” in Section 24(1)(b), which they believe threatens peaceful and legitimate expression and leaves room for abuse.
SERAP highlighted several instances where the law was allegedly misused to target government critics, including activist Dele Farotimi, journalist Agba Jalingo, and social media user Chioma Okoli.
The organization emphasized that the amended legislation has a chilling effect on human rights and media freedom.
SERAP stressed that the amended Act contravenes international human rights law, which requires restrictions on freedom of expression to serve a legitimate purpose and be strictly proportionate.
The organization seeks a declaration that Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 is unlawful and an order directing the government to repeal or amend the legislation in compliance with international standards.
However, a hearing date has not been set for the suit.
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