CAMPAIGN
#Let's Talk Digital
No civic space without digital space!
The #Let'sTalkDigital campaign, launched in 2021 by Forus, is a global initiative exploring and addressing the impact of digital technologies on civil society.
The tagline "no civic space without digital space" encapsulates the campaign's central message: digitalisation is not just a technical evolution but a key dimension influencing freedoms of association, assembly, and expression. At the same time the campaign calls for “Talks”: discussions, and inclusive conversations around digital governance, challenging power relations in the digital sphere.
Digital Governance and Rights
Our Work
Forus as a network, focuses on human-centric digital governance, promoting digital rights and equitable access. We are a consortium member of the #CADE project supporting civil society in internet governance forums, as well as the #KeepItOn coalition against internet shutdowns. We raise awareness about emerging technology risks, providing CSOs with digital security and advocacy tools, and we engage with our members in global policy discussions to ensure inclusive, transparent decision-making and the representation of civil society visions.
Listen to our podcast series Digital Futures on rights, barriers and opportunities in internet governance.
This podcast complements a detailed mapping study on the barriers and opportunities civil society faces in internet governance spaces worldwide. Throughout this series, we’ll journey across the globe, connecting with voices at the heart of digital transformation and digital rights. Digital Futures is brought to you by Forus for the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment - CADE, a project co-funded by the European Union.
Listen to the intro episode
/ Podcasts
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2024-12-08
#CADE - Dismantling barriers for civil society in internet governance
2025-09-29
2024-10-01
2025-09-29
2024-10-31
2025-05-28
2024-06-11
2023-12-11
2024-07-07
2023-06-29
2024-02-28
2023-09-26
2023-07-18
2023-03-28
2023-05-23
2023-01-25
2022-12-29
2022-07-06
2021-11-18
2021-09-26
FIFAfrica25: The Nigeria Network of NGOs on open and inclusive Internet at the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa Combating Violence and Digital Threats in Central Africa: The Role of Regional Initiatives Raising Her Voice: how Nepali women are using storytelling, digital media and AI to change the narrative Call for Proposals: AI Artivism for Digital Rights Competition Civil society powers the fight for digital rights through AI artivism Launch of the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment project (CADE) Launch of the Civil Socety Manifesto for Ethical AI Social Media Strategies And Digital Advocacy for Civil Society Co-Creating a Civil Society Manifesto for AI Forus workshop on Digital Activism and AI narratives TechTalks: Digital Strategies for Civil Society Civil society calls on EU to protect people’s rights in the AI Act ‘trilogue’ negotiations - European Digital Rights (EDRi) Are barriers to digital technology preventing civil society organisations from achieving their potential? State of Digital Inequity Report Digital Politics: “Disconnected Citizens Are Kept Away from Opportunities” Digitalisation in Rwanda: "interaction with other platforms is not a luxury but rather a necessity" New report looks at the power of positive narratives and digital rights to support activism worldwide Together for an Equal, Just and Democratic Digital World #LetsTalkDigital: for better online activism Read from Forus member, the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), about the 12th edition of the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica25), which took place from 24–26 September 2025 in Windhoek, Namibia. Hosted by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), the annual forum brought together policymakers, civil society organisations, human rights defenders, telecom regulators, media professionals, and academics to shape Africa’s digital rights and internet governance agenda. The proliferation of online bullying and violence is a fundamental challenge to maintaining stable and prosperous African societies. Whether improving infrastructure, raising awareness or participating in internet governance forums to shape policy and practice, Repongac actively contributes to these forums by advocating for policies that enhance digital security and protect against cyber threats. It shares the challenges and opportunities ahead as a regional coalition in Central Africa. Over 40 young women from Dalit and Janajati communities came together for Raising Her Voice, a HopeRise Foundation Nepal initiative with Forus support as part of CADE, that turned their personal stories into creative, and digitally shareable narratives. HopeRise Foundation Nepal is one of the winners of the CADE AI artivism call as is a community mobiliser for the #Let's Talk Digital campaign. Forus, as part of the Civil Society Alliances for Digital Empowerment (CADE), a project co-funded by the European Union, is launching a call for proposals aimed at civil society organisations, activists, artists and digital rights defenders. As part of our mission to strengthen the capacity and engagement of CSOs in digital governance and advocacy, we are launching a call for AI-driven artworks highlighting the critical role of civil society in shaping the digital landscape and challenges and opportunities when it comes to digital rights. The 3 winning organisations will now serve as community mobilizers for the Let’s Talk Digital campaign and support the development of AI generated works around digital rights. Co-funded by the European Union, the CADE project aims to enhance the active participation of CSOs in global governance and development initiatives. This initiative is crucial in fostering inclusive and participatory democratic processes worldwide. Recap of the Forus launch event for the Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI Al margen del Foro Político de Alto Nivel que se celebró en Nueva York, Forus organizó un taller sobre estrategias de redes sociales y promoción digital en el que se presentaron diversas campañas e iniciativas en torno al espacio cívico, la cooperación internacional y la implementación y seguimiento de la Agenda 2030. The Forus network, together with over 40 other civil society organisations, is coordinating the co-creation of a Civil Society Manifesto for AI. Read more about this initiative and how to join in this article. The most recent Forus ComsForUs Workshop on Digital Activism, Artificial Intelligence and Storytelling looked at the intersection of technology and digital activism. How can civil society organizations conduct public education and awareness campaigns to combat disinformation and misinformation, which have the potential to erode public trust in their work? How can they measure the effectiveness of these initiatives? How can websites serve as informative platforms to showcase the impact, narratives, and collaborations of civil society organizations? As EU institutions start decisive meetings on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, a broad civil society coalition is urging them to prioritise people and fundamental rights. 95% of CSOs say internet is critical to their ability to do their work; however, as much as 78% lack the digital technology tools to do so. This report explores the results of the largest ever survey of civil society’s digital haves and have-nots. In 2022, Saudi Arabia “quietly” sentenced Salma al-Shehab to 34 years in prison over her Twitter activity, marking the longest Saudi sentence ever for a peaceful activist. Fast forward and award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was charged with two counts of “offensive communication” after making unflattering remarks about the president and his son on Twitter. … Assisted by a Consultant, a local expert in communication, CCOAIB members exchanged on technologies, models of communication and on practices of collaboration. The sustained and multifaceted critique of civil society, and of activists in particular, by a growing number of political regimes who outbid themselves in calling into question the legitimacy, independence, and credibility of NGOs and civic actors mobilising around the world, represents a significant and increasing threat. Action Programme for Tech for Democracy – Civil society recommendations This article explores possible ways of shifting away from the current model of digitalisation, which restricts and represses, to one that enables and empowers.Discover the CADE project
Enhancing civil society's participation in digital governance
Why Create a Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI? Because the narratives and insights of civil society organizations regarding AI development and utilization have often been marginalized in discussions.
The Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI is more than just a static document; it's a dynamic project that goes beyond words. It encompasses in- person roundtables, discussions, and storytelling and shares the multiple and diverse efforts of civil society organisations, human rights activists and tech experts to change the approach and narratives around AI and machine learning. In the Manifesto, you will encounter not only a collection of recommendations but also narratives, experiences, and aspirations for a future where technological progress is a topic of shared discourse and reflection.
Discover the Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI
Connecting African Youth with digital opportunities and ensuring digital rights for all
Discover various resources from Paradigm Initiative protecting citizens and human rights defenders across Africa.
Ayeta
A proactive toolkit for African digital rights actors
Developed by Paradigm Initiative (PIN) with the support of Stanford Digital Society Lab and the Kingdom of Netherlands, amongst other partners, the toolkit’s overarching aim is to address the growing need to safeguard digital rights defenders, journalists, whistle blowers, and others working with sensitive information in the global South.
Ripoti
Ripoti enables people to report digital rights violations in Africa
Ripoti works with a community of advocacy organisations, human rights organisations, digital rights organisations, researchers, strategic litigation lawyers, National Human Rights Institutions, and other relevant actors and stakeholders to document, respond to and address violations including getting justice for the victims were required.
The Digital Enquirer Kit
While the effects of misinformation are noticeable across the globe, they can be particularly harmful to societies in the global south where public debates are often dominated by few and where the rapid advance of digital technologies is prone to reinforce existing inequalities. In particular, misleading narratives, sometimes coupled with online gender-based violence and other forms of online discrimination, lead to an online information space that silences dissenting voices and excludes children, women, and other marginalized groups.
While the effects of misinformation are noticeable across the globe, they can be particularly harmful to societies in the global south where public debates are often dominated by few and where the rapid advance of digital technologies is prone to reinforce existing inequalities. In particular, misleading narratives, sometimes coupled with online gender-based violence and other forms of online discrimination, lead to an online information space that silences dissenting voices and excludes children, women, and other marginalized groups.
That’s why our friends from the Human Rights department at the German Agency for Development Cooperation (GIZ) have joined forces with civil society organizations from multiple regions to develop the Digital Enquirer Kit.
The Digital Enquirer Kit is a modular set of e-learnings, that consists of interactive tasks, real life examples and advice on how to counter misinformation and increase one´s own digital security.
It is specifically designed for human rights defenders, activists and students. In order to reach this designated target group, the contents of the course have been localized by digital security experts from all over the world and will be freely available in 11 languages. Addressing topics such as freedom of information, online gender-based violence, as well as online security of children, the Digital Enquirer Kit ultimately aims to sensitize learners to digital rights issues and empower them to strengthen the capacity of their communities.
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Pandemic of Control: Digital Authoritarianism and COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific
Through diverse Asia-Pacific perspectives, 'Pandemic of Control' aims to address the rise of digital authoritarianism by raising awareness, sparking conversation, and encouraging action. Produced by EngageMedia in partnership with CommonEdge, the collection features pieces by writers and researchers from Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Australia. Covering topics ranging from privacy and data security concerns surrounding contact tracing apps, to governments’ increasing use of surveillance and censorship to suppress criticism, the authors question the how and the why of their respective countries’ pandemic response and shed light on more rights-respecting paths moving forward.
In 2022 forus partnered with Connect Humanity, the Fund for Global Human Rights, Future Vox and over 15 members to research the impact of narratives in the digital world.
The aim of the “Enabling Stories” report is to examine two key factors which have been rapidly transforming civic space across the world in recent years, often negatively impacting the rights and freedoms of activists and civil society practitioners and their operating environments. These factors are, firstly, the COVID-19 global health pandemic and secondly, the accelerating global process of digitization.
Acampamento Terra Livre
© Midia Ninja
/ Reports & publications
2023-10-18
Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AIDeveloped with over 50 Forus members and partners, the multilingual Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI includes 17 case studies and was created with organisations from over 30 countries. Discover it during the official launch on December 6.
2022-07-05
Enabling Stories - How civil society can build new narratives in a world transformed by Digitalization and the Covid-19 PandemicThe aim of this report is to examine two key factors which have been rapidly transforming civic space across the world in recent years, often negatively impacting the rights and freedoms of activists and civil society practitioners and their operating environments. These factors are, firstly, the COVID 19 global health pandemic and secondly, the accelerating global process of digitalization.
2021-07-09
Towards an Enabling Digital Environment for Civil Society - Full ReportThe purpose of this report, “Towards an enabling digital environment for civil society”, is to highlight the impacts of digitalisation experienced by our civil society members; to explore risks and important opportunities; and to advocate for an inclusive, human-rights-based and democratic form of digitalisation that will empower and enable rather than restrict and repress.
Agenda 2030 - HLPF - Influence
2023-05-23
TECH FOR DEMOCRACY: Learnings from the Year of ActionDuring the Year of Action, key areas of commitment made by stakeholders have centered on the creation of novel networks and channels of collaboration; knowledge production; dissemination of information and tools; monitoring and accountability; outreach and advocacy, regulatory and normative frameworks; as well as developing platforms, digital tools, and technologies. Read the findings and reccomendations!
2023-05-23
State of Digital Inequity ReportThis report explores the results of the largest ever survey of civil society’s digital haves and have-nots.
/ ARTICLES
Forus continues to develop its #Let's Talk Digital collective campaign with partners and allies collecting ideas and sparking debates about digitalization. Contributions are used to advocate for new digital frameworks which are inclusive, safe and accessible to all. Do you have a publication or activity to promote? Ideas on how civil society can take part in digitalization processes?
