For those of us who have access to it, the internet has become an essential part of our daily information and communication needs. However millions of people still do not have affordable, reliable or sufficient connectivity. APC believes the internet is a global public good. Founded in 1990, we are an international network and non-profit organisation that wants everyone to have access to a free and open internet to improve our lives and create a more just world.

What people say about APC / What the media says about APC

Call for contributions on the internet and human rights in Africa

JOHANNESBURG 14 July 2016 (APCNews)

APC is calling for submissions of articles, case studies, interviews, publication reviews and other creative audio and visual contributions that explore how the internet [can / does / could] play a role in upholding human rights in Africa. Deadline for submissions is 25 July!

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Special Rapporteur on violence against women calls to prioritise online violence against women

15 July 2016 (Flavia Fascendini for APCNews)

In her first report to the Human Rights Council on its 32nd session, the new Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Dubravka Šimonović, outlines thematic priorities for her mandate, including “online violence against women as a new challenge”.

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Engage with the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms

14 July 2016 (APCNews)

APC launches a new feature of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms to foster engagement with the principles through shared resources and multimedia content about internet rights in Africa.

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Statement on the recent attacks on Black Lives Matter's website

12 July 2016 (Black Lives Matter, eQualit.ie and May First/People Link, Design Action Collective)

The official Black Lives Matter website (http://blacklivesmatter.com) has experienced a massive denial of service attack starting this past weekend and continuing at this time. The site remains functional due largely to the protections provided by Deflect, a program made available by eQualit.ie.

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What is your organisation's DNA? An interview with Paz Peña on strategic communications for advocacy

PERGAMINO 9 July 2016 (Flavia Fascendini for APCNews)

In a changing environment with tremendous competition among messages, how can we ensure that our communications have maximum impact? APCNews talked to Paz Peña, a Chilean journalist and social communicator who has been working on digital rights issues for the past eight years.

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“Take Back the Tech! has always been a celebration of women and tech”

PERGAMINO 5 July 2016 (Flavia Fascendini for APCNews)

The Take Back the Tech! (TBTT) campaign, along with Luchadoras and La Sandía Digital from Mexico, recently won the Womanity Award for the Prevention of Violence Against Women. Lulú Barrera and Erika Smith, from Luchadoras and APC respectively, shared with APCNews what is next, and what this recognition means in the context of TBTT’s 10th anniversary.

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UNHRC: Resolution reaffirming human rights online adopted

1 July 2016 (APC for APCNews)

APC welcomes the adoption by the Human Rights Council (HRC) of resolution reaffirming the importance of promoting and protecting human rights on the internet. The resolution which was adopted by consensus addresses some of the most pressing challenges to human rights online today.

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APC signs letter supporting Internet Steering Committee of Brazil

28 June 2016 (Best Bits)

The multistakeholder Internet Steering Committee of Brazil, CGI.br has a crucial mission in the development of the internet in Brazil. APC supports the stability, security and quality of the work which has been and continues to be carried out and developed by the committee by joining a diversity of organisations and individuals in affirming the centrality of CGI.br to develop activities absolutely vital for the internet of today and tomorrow in the country.

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"The ICT sector should be driving global discussion about respect for human rights in the private sector"

24 June 2016 (APC for APCNews)

In a paper entitled “Business and digital rights: Taking stock of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights in the ICT sector”, author David Sullivan analyses the implementation of the Guiding Principles in the ICT sector.

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“The African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms is just an instrument, but quite an important one"

23 June 2016 (APCNews)

“Being mentioned in the Special Rapporteur’s report means that the African Declaration is increasingly getting recognition from the human rights community.”

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APC condemns brutal state attacks on Oaxacan civil society

CANCUN 21 June 2016 (APC for APCNews)

As a network, APC stands in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca, the teachers’ movement, our members in Mexico and our colleagues in Mexican civil society at the OECD Ministerial Meeting. Read also: Civil Society at OECD event in Mexico rejects repression in Oaxaca .

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The role of private actors regarding freedom of expression in the digital age: APC welcomes UN Special Rapporteur's report

13 June 2016 (APC for APCNews)

The Association for Progressive Communications welcomes the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, which focuses on the critical issue of the role of the ICT sector in the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression. The report will be presented at the Human Rights Council on 16 June.

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Job posting: APC seeks an Africa communications and research officer

13 June 2016 (APC for APCNews)

APC is looking for a dynamic information and communications person to join our team. The objective of the position is to provide research and communications support for APC’s internet policy, governance and rights work in Africa. The deadline for applications is 24 June 2016.

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Internet rights at the Human Rights Council 32nd session

GENEVA 12 June 2016 (Deborah Brown (APC); Deniz Duru Aydin and Peter Micek (Access Now))

The 32nd session of the Human Rights Council is taking place from 13 June to 1 July in Geneva. Internet rights will be discussed coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the Council.

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Three key issues for a feminist internet: Access, agency and movements

6 June 2016 (GenderIT.org)

In this GenderIT.org edition, we have invited partners from our #ImagineaFeministInternet network to dive into the topics of access, agency and movements and weave in some of the conversations that took place at the second Imagine a Feminist Internet meeting in July 2015.

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What people say about #APC25

"I congratulate APC on their 25th anniversary, which was celebrated in Brazil. But surely it is more than 25 years. Here is my small story. I joined Homeonet in 1987 from Manchester, and spectacularly was able to obtain a rare homeopathic medicine for my friend the late David Warkentin. I obtained it from England as he could not find it in California. We both said Hurrah and became friends, not just virtually but stayed in each others houses and worked together on software for homeopaths which is still running. BIG thanks for being there." -- Francis Treuherz

"When I was working for SANGONeT in the early 2000s, I was invited to give a presentation at an APC workshop in Johannesburg. I forget what I spoke about. All I remember was: Colour. A wash of colour. Hair, clothes, accents, perspectives. And the energy was different to what I was used to. So many people, from so many different countries - it blew me away. A few years later, I started working on APC projects as a freelancer, and then later as a staff member too. That sense of colour has never gone away. APC has connected me to different cultures in ways that are profound, and unusual. It's something that feels so ordinary now for me, but I don't think it is. Coming from such an inward-looking country, it has been a great richness to connect outwards." -- Alan Finlay, South Africa

"As an individual, APC has given me the opportunity to meet different people and share with them on different subjects. As an organisation, we have opportunities through APC to meet different organisations, build South-South and North-South project collaborations, and use face-to-face meetings to get to know each other and share our common views on how ICTs can better improve the lives of communities and citizens. Joyeux Anniversaire, APC!" -- Avis Momeni, PROTEGE QV, Cameroon

"I think that the main contribution made by APC has been to increase the visibility of the role of civil society organisations in setting the agenda for building the information society from a human rights-based perspective." -- Eduardo Rojas, Fundación REDES, Bolivia

"APC is a meeting and learning point, a point for sharing experiences, processes, results and objectives. And also a coordinating point for local, regional and global efforts." -- Mario Morales, Colombia

"As far as I am concerned, APC has given me the opportunity to take part in trainings and to increase my skills in ICTs and related aspects. Through the various events I have attended, I have been able to meet with people, share and gain experience, and gradually become a knowledgeable digital security trainer. I know many more opportunities are still to come, so Happy Anniversary and long live the opportunities and partnerships provided by APC! :) -- Olga Balbine Tsafack, PROTEGE QV, Cameroon"

"I do feel very happy and proud of the work we did with APC. For me and other technicians involved in this huge project, it became a way of life." -- Cristina Vasconi Nicarao — Nicaragua

“I believe APC played a much larger role in the evolution of the internet than most commentators and historians have mentioned" -- Ian Peters, founder of Pegasus

“After the Berlin Wall fell, NGOs were almost desperate to connect with one another within their countries, among their countries and with Western Europe, North America and others. APC node ZaMirNET in the former Yugoslavia was essential to helping women activists for peace connect during the conflict in the Balkans." -- Victoria Vrana

For the past several decades, APC and its member organisations have played a leading role establishing the first internet service in many countries, creating and promoting the first Internet Rights Charter, and helping individual activists, NGOs, and UN organisations and events harness of the power of the internet as a force for positive change in the world.” -- Peter Gabriel

"I am very proud to be part of your big family and have such great shared space to express myself as woman and as activist for marginalised culture. So, in our Tamzight language: “assegas dan mar APC” (happy new year, APC :)" -- Maha Jouini, Tunisia

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Brief history of APC

Brief history of APC from APC on Vimeo.