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CADE

Youth Voices for Digital Rights

More voices, more rights online.

Our younger generations of digital natives are the first to have their entire lives encoded in digital data. As the biggest user group on social media platforms, and those feeling the consequences of emerging technologies the most, young people are deeply impacted by how the digital world is governed. Yet, their rights are often overlooked, and their perspectives are often missing from internet governance forums.  

 

That’s what we want to change. 

 

 

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Putting young people at the centre of digital change.

 

The programme gives advocates the chance to build skills, connect globally, and speak up in the spaces where internet policies are shaped. It’s about making sure diverse voices — especially from communities often left out — are heard loud and clear. By the end, participants will launch a Youth Manifesto on Digital Rights and showcase their multimedia and multilingual projects on the global stage.

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/ Meet the Voices

Charlemagne Agbassa | Forus
Charlemagne Agbassa

Benin

Huguette Oke | Forus
Huguette Oke

Benin

Mar Marín | Forus
Mar Marín

Mexico

Rhoda Julius | Forus
Rhoda Julius

Tanzania

Aurelio Mofuga | Forus
Aurelio Mofuga

Tanzania

Jhonatan Dueñas | Forus
Jhonatan Dueñas

Ecuador

Himani Singh | Forus
Himani Singh

India

Ramna Saeed | Forus
Ramna Saeed

Pakistan

Francia Andriamanantena | Forus
Francia Andriamanantena

Madagascar

Kasumi Ranasinghe Arachchige | Forus
Kasumi Ranasinghe Arachchige

Sri Lanka

Ganga Bahadur Gautam | Forus
Ganga Bahadur Gautam

Nepal

Nancy Borissova | Forus
Nancy Borissova

Bulgaria

Mustapha Lawal | Forus
Mustapha Lawal

Nigeria

Facundo Rodriguez | Forus
Facundo Rodriguez

Argentina

Roi Vincent M. Merca | Forus
Roi Vincent M. Merca

Philippines

/ Multimedia Projects

Youth Manifesto for Digital Rights | Forus
Youth Manifesto for Digital Rights Young people are the internet’s largest user group, but are often the furthest away from internet governance forums. The Youth Voices for Digital Rights project convened fifteen young activists in a multiregional, multilingual space to learn, share, and co-create solutions to today’s digital challenges.
Facundo Rodriguez - Social networks fuel youth mobilization on Argentina’s streets | Forus
Facundo Rodriguez - Social networks fuel youth mobilization on Argentina’s streets Unlike movements in earlier decades, Argentina’s latest youth-led protests are increasingly organized digitally through platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Whatsapp, rather than through unions or political parties.
Kasumi Ranasinghe - Data colonialism in Mannar: When data is extracted, communities pay the price | Forus
Kasumi Ranasinghe - Data colonialism in Mannar: When data is extracted, communities pay the price What does data colonialism look like on the ground? This video explores how data extraction, surveillance, and digital decision-making are reshaping lives on Mannar Island. By centering local voices, it sheds light on how digital systems can reproduce old colonial power structures—this time through data—and why this matters for communities, rights, and justice. This video by the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment #CADE breaks it all down. 👉 Join the Let’s Talk Digital campaign to learn more and add your voice to the conversation: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaign/let-s-talk-digital 👉 Follow the CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights journey: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=campaign&modal_detail_id=cade-youth-voices-for-digital-rights-200092 Stay tuned for more! #DigitalRights #datasecurity #LetsTalkDigital #dataprivacy
Kasumi Ranasinghe - Mannar Voices: Data Colonialism, Conflict, and Community Sovereignty | Forus
Kasumi Ranasinghe - Mannar Voices: Data Colonialism, Conflict, and Community Sovereignty On Mannar Island, in Sri Lanka, youth are fighting back against “data colonialism”—outsiders collecting sensitive personal and environmental information without consent, often harming communities and erasing generations of local knowledge. From fragile ecosystems to fishing livelihoods, the people of Mannar face decisions about their future made without them.
Himani Singh - Caste discrimination didn’t disappear - This is what digital casteism looks like in India | Forus
Himani Singh - Caste discrimination didn’t disappear - This is what digital casteism looks like in India Technology is often framed as neutral and empowering—but digital systems can reproduce deep-rooted social hierarchies. This video explores digital casteism in India, showing how platforms, data, algorithms, and access to technology can reinforce caste-based discrimination rather than dismantle it. By centering lived experiences and structural realities, the video asks a critical question: who benefits from digital progress, and who is left behind? 👉 Join the Let’s Talk Digital campaign to learn more and add your voice to the conversation: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaign/let-s-talk-digital 👉 Follow the CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights journey: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=campaign&modal_detail_id=cade-youth-voices-for-digital-rights-200092 Stay tuned for more! #DigitalCasteism #CasteInTheDigitalAge #TechAndInequality #digitaljustice #socialjustice
Ganga Bahadur Gautam - Connected but Excluded: How Nepal’s Gen Z Turned Digital Shutdown into a Fight for Democratic Governance | Forus
Ganga Bahadur Gautam - Connected but Excluded: How Nepal’s Gen Z Turned Digital Shutdown into a Fight for Democratic Governance On September 4, the government abruptly blocked access to 26 major digital platforms—including Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp—officially citing registration and tax disputes. For young Nepalis, however, the intent was unmistakable. The shutdown came just as the viral “Nepo Kid” trend was exposing the stark contrast between the extravagant lifestyles of political elites and the reality of a population surviving on an average annual income of just $1,400.
Nancy Borissova - Online child exploitation and violations are real—and they demand urgent action. | Forus
Nancy Borissova - Online child exploitation and violations are real—and they demand urgent action. Children are increasingly exposed to harm in digital spaces—from online exploitation and abuse to violations of their privacy and rights. This video sheds light on how these abuses happen, why they are often invisible, and what must change to make the internet safer for children. This video was produced by the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment #CADE as part of the Youth Voices for Digital Rights Initiative. 👉 Join the Let’s Talk Digital campaign to learn more and add your voice to the conversation: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaign/let-s-talk-digital 👉 Follow the CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights journey: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=campaign&modal_detail_id=cade-youth-voices-for-digital-rights-200092 Stay tuned for more! #DigitalRights #datasecurity #LetsTalkDigital #dataprivacy
Mustapha Lawal - Digital Democracy: Empowerment or Erosion? | Forus
Mustapha Lawal - Digital Democracy: Empowerment or Erosion? Adewale has voted twice. His first election came before Nigeria’s embrace of biometric accreditation and digital result portals. The process was slow and flawed, but familiar. The second was 2023, when technology was meant to change everything.
Mustapha Lawal on the importance of humanising data during elections | Forus
Mustapha Lawal on the importance of humanising data during elections In this episode, Mustapha Lawal reflects on elections, technology, and youth participation after a six-month journey into digital democracy, where promise, power, and uncertainty collide. Mustapha is a Nigerian researcher, writer, and fact-checker passionate about the intersections of technology, justice, and storytelling. He is also part of the CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights cohort led by Forus in partnership with Karisma, co-funded by the European Union. Disclaimer: This podcast episode was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Forus and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿Quién puede recibirse así? Episodio 1 | Forus
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿Quién puede recibirse así? Episodio 1 Este episodio explora cómo el acceso desigual a Internet determina quién puede aprender, graduarse y participar plenamente en la sociedad. En este primer episodio, analizamos lo que significa navegar por la educación y las oportunidades con una conectividad inestable o limitada, y quiénes se quedan atrás cuando el acceso digital se convierte en un requisito previo para el éxito. Facundo forma parte del grupo CADE Voces de los Jóvenes por los Derechos Digitales, dirigido por Forus en colaboración con Karisma y cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Descargo de responsabilidad: Este episodio de podcast ha sido cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Su contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de Forus y no refleja necesariamente las opiniones de la Unión Europea.
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿El mérito alcanza? Episodio 2 | Forus
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿El mérito alcanza? Episodio 2 En este segundo episodio, Facundo Rodríguez cuestiona la idea de que el esfuerzo por sí solo determina el éxito en un mundo digital marcado por la desigualdad. Este episodio examina cómo las barreras estructurales, como la conectividad desigual y el acceso a la tecnología, desafían la narrativa de la meritocracia y determinan quiénes progresan. Facundo forma parte del grupo CADE Voces de los Jóvenes por los Derechos Digitales, liderado por Forus en colaboración con Karisma y cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Descargo de responsabilidad: Este episodio de podcast ha sido cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Su contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de Forus y no refleja necesariamente las opiniones de la Unión Europea.
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿Si no te ven, existís? Episodio 3 | Forus
Facundo Rodriguez - Conexión de Segunda: ¿Si no te ven, existís? Episodio 3 Facundo Rodríguez reflexiona sobre la visibilidad en la era digital. Este episodio explora cómo la falta de conectividad y la invisibilidad algorítmica afectan al reconocimiento, la participación y la propia existencia en un mundo en el que prima lo online. Si estás desconectado, o eres invisible en Internet, ¿existís? Facundo forma parte del grupo CADE Voces de los Jóvenes por los Derechos Digitales, liderado por Forus en colaboración con Karisma y cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Descargo de responsabilidad: Este episodio de podcast ha sido cofinanciado por la Unión Europea. Su contenido es responsabilidad exclusiva de Forus y no refleja necesariamente las opiniones de la Unión Europea.
Mustapha Lawal - The internet is a public good. Governance must be shared. | Forus
Mustapha Lawal - The internet is a public good. Governance must be shared. This video is a call to those who shape the digital world. It challenges closed decision-making and demands shared digital governance. Participation must mean real power, not symbolic consultation. Affordable access is a rights issue, not a technical afterthought. Transparency, accountability, and open algorithms are non-negotiable. Security must protect people without sacrificing freedom or dignity. The internet is a public good, and its future must be just and inclusive. The video was inspired by the CADE Youth Voices for digital rights programme manifesto which you can read here: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=pdf&modal_detail_id=youth-manifesto-for-digital-rights Disclaimer: This video was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Forus and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
Ramna Saeed - How PECA is Redefining Free Speech in Pakistan | Forus
Ramna Saeed - How PECA is Redefining Free Speech in Pakistan This video examines how Pakistan’s Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), originally designed to tackle cybercrime, has increasingly been used to suppress free speech. Through anonymized accounts of journalists, students, and content creators, the piece shows how vague rules and aggressive enforcement lead to self-censorship, silenced debates, and reduced public accountability. It highlights the gap between PECA’s promise to protect citizens and its real-world chilling effect on online expression and democratic discourse. This video was produced by the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment #CADE as part of the Youth Voices for Digital Rights Initiative. 👉 Join the Let’s Talk Digital campaign to learn more and add your voice to the conversation: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=campaign&modal_detail_id=let-s-talk-digital 👉 Follow the CADE Youth Voices for Digital Rights journey: https://www.forus-international.org/en/campaigns?modal_page=campaign&modal_detail_id=cade-youth-voices-for-digital-rights-200092 Stay tuned for more! #DigitalRights #datasecurity #LetsTalkDigital #dataprivacy Disclaimer: This video was co-funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Forus and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

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#MarchWithUs The #MarchWithUs campaign is one full month a year dedicated to the voices of women and LGBTQI+ activists on the frontline of social change.
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#Let's Talk Digital What will the future of digitalization look like? How can be part of it?

Who is involved?

 

The young advocates joining the programme come from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. They include journalists, policy researchers, technologists, activists, and community organisers — from Nigeria to Nepal, Argentina to Sri Lanka, Benin to the Philippines, Pakistan to Mexico, Bulgaria to Madagascar, Tanzania to Ecuador and India. Some are already leading digital rights campaigns, while others are working on gender justice, climate action, psychosocial support, indigenous language revitalisation, or the fight against misinformation and online discrimination. Many have founded or led organisations working for transformative social change, supporting communities & using positive narratives and storytelling to amplify actions and struggles. What unites them is a commitment to making the digital realm more inclusive, equitable, and accountable.

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Meet the facilitators and media leaders

The programme is guided by experienced facilitators and communicators who bring global perspectives and hands-on expertise: Athavarn Srikantharajah, Fonka Mutta and Catarina Vila Nova with support from Bibbi Abruzzini and Clarisse Sih from the Forus team. 

Athavarn Srikantharajah -  Founder and lead facilitator at Nila Facilitation. A facilitator, organiser, and writer with over a decade of experience in social and economic justice, Athavarn has facilitated spaces for strategy development, movement building, and shared learning across Canada, South Africa, Jordan, Poland, the United States, and Sri Lanka.

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Catarina Vila Nova – Communications specialist with over five years of experience in journalism, podcasting, and digital communications in several countries (Portugal, China, the Netherlands, Malta, Belgium, and Spain). Skilled in content creation, media outreach, and digital storytelling with a strong focus on intersectional feminism and social and climate justice. Catarina started her career as a journalist in Macao, China, and later specialized in implementing communications campaigns for NGOs, EU institutions, and think tanks. She has collaborated with Forus on the #Let's Talk Digital Campaign.

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Fonka Mutta - An English/French journalist and media executive with over 20 years of international experience, including as Channel Manager at CRTV News and for Reuters. From reporting on the Boko Haram crisis to moderating at UNESCO events, Fonka brings expertise in crisis reporting, newsroom leadership, digital innovation, and in strengthening African media capacity, with a focus on young journalists and media practitioners. His extensive international reporting has taken him to 13 countries, solidifying his expertise in global journalism. Fonka has contributed to international media organisations like Thomson Reuters and the Pan-African Parliament. He is also a respected lecturer and a passionate advocate for community development as a co-founder of the United for Cameroon Coalition.

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Maabo Damian Afungchwi - Damian is a Creative Director, Video Editor, and Content Creator with a portfolio spanning feature films, primetime news, and international brand campaigns.  His career highlights include serving as Creative Director and Editor at CRTV News, producing branded television content and documentaries in partnership with WWF, GEF, and UNESCO.

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Learn more about CADE

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Join Us in Supporting Young Leaders

We invite youth leaders, advocates, partners, allies, and supporters to join us in bringing this vision to life. Together, we can amplify the voices of young changemakers, build inclusive governance, and shape a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Contact [email protected] for partnership opportunities.

Contact us
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