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March 22, 2018 - Comments Off on Aurat March backlash and the Continuum of misogyny from the street to Facebook Pages

Aurat March backlash and the Continuum of misogyny from the street to Facebook Pages

The Aurat March was held on March 8, 2018 to mark International Women’s Day. The March was held in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. It was organized and attended by a collective of activists, organisations and groups to celebrate the feminist movement, while at the same time highlighting the oppressive patriarchal structures that allow for marginalisation of women. It was unfortunate however that in the aftermath the March itself turned into an example of how women’s voices are stifled, ridiculed and dismissed when they try to raise their concerns. The reactions to the March, particularly some posters displayed in the procession, have exemplified the daily offline and online harassment that women face.

We, at the Cyber Harassment Helpline, have seen a lot of cases of misogyny and gendered harassment of women in online spaces. However, after the deluge of complaints immediately in wake and directly related to the Aurat March, we saw a different kind of harassment take hold of online spaces.

Several pages have been identified to us by complainants that have engaged in a concerted campaign to target those who attended the Aurat March, especially the women photographed with signs and posters. Particularly two posters have attracted the ire of people on the internet-- “khud khana garam kar lo!” (“Re-heat the food yourself”) and “Mera Jism, Meri Marzi” (“My body, my choice”). Not only have the women holding these posters directly been targeted, the images have been used to target the organisers of the march and the Pakistani feminist movement in general. Women have been receiving death and rape threats, with their faces broadcast on social media.

The unfortunate incidents lay bare some uncomfortable truths about Pakistan and the level of misogyny that pervades our systems and everyday lives. It also highlights the risks activists and outspoken rights advocates face given the ubiquitous nature of digital technologies. The boundaries regarding consent in public spaces have always been misunderstood, and this takes on a more complicated shape in online spaces.

The continuum between online and offline spaces is highlighted by the backlash to the Aurat March. While the March took place in an offline public space, the backlash found expression mostly in online spaces. Posts have appeared revealing personal details of the protestors (a phenomenon known as “doxing”), ridiculing them and threatening them with gendered violence. These responses are specifically geared towards silencing voices of women. The Aurat March was the first public procession for a lot of women, thus targeting them is akin to pushing them out of these spaces and creates an additional burden for women who want to raise rights issues through peaceful protest which is a fundamental and constitutional right of every citizen.

The Aurat March 2018 was part of a continued struggle by women for a more equal, just and inclusive society. Earlier feminist movements in Pakistan have faced backlash from different groups, especially beneficiaries of patriarchal structures, however this instance highlights that that online spaces can be weaponized to target and silence activists, women and minorities in new and dangerous ways.

If you or anyone you know is being targeted online for their opinions, views and stances, please reach to us at the Cyber Harassment Helpline through our toll-free number (0800-39393) and email address (helpdesk@digitalrightsfoundation.pk). We will help with speedy content removal and legal advice. Don’t let your voice be silenced, there is support out there.

Author: Hyra Basit

March 20, 2018 - Comments Off on Cambridge Analytica Scandal and How to Secure Your Data

Cambridge Analytica Scandal and How to Secure Your Data

This weekend news broke that a data breach of 50 million Facebook profiles was used by the data analytics firm, Cambridge Analytica, to assist the Donald Trump campaign. The news is worrisome for several reasons, and it speaks to a problem that digital rights and privacy advocates have been advocating against for years--the need for stronger user data protections and accountability for social media companies.

Facebook users’ personal information, such as likes and status updates, were used to build profiles of users in order to predict their electoral behaviour. The data breach happened through a personality test app called “thisisyourdigitallife”. Like most apps we connect to our social media, it was far from innocuous as the intrusive application, once given permission, harvested personal data of users. Furthermore, the application also collected information of the test-takers’ Facebook friends. The ostensible justification for collecting the data was to improve the user experience and was allowed by Facebook’s “platform policy”.

We all volunteer a lot of information on social media, however there is a serious lack of transparency on how this information is being collected, stored and used. One of biggest sources of data breaches are the applications we give permissions and access to--they are a source of constant collection and surveillance.

The following is step-by-step guide on how to secure your social media accounts and prevent third-party applications for harvesting your data:

Login to Facebook with your username and password
Click the drop down icon next to the Help icon
On left side Click Apps. You will be presented with apps that are currently using your Facebook credentials to sign in
Clicking on any app you will be presented with the settings of that app. In this example, we will use Careem and see what sort of settings are available

The options presented by Careem are as follows. Some details of these options are:

App Visibility. This setting simply allows the audience for the app. In the screenshot it’s selected to “Only Me” meaning only the owner of the profile can see that the app is being used. If changed to “Friends” then only friends will be able to see that the owner of this profile uses this app
Public Profile. This app is currently accessing my Name, Profile Picture, Age, and Gender which is required by the app for registration purposes. You can see this information in Careem app as well. Your basic info is being picked directly from your profile when you sign up for the app using your Facebook credentials.
Email Address: Email address accessed by the app for signing in purposes.
Notifications are enabled if I use Careem directly from Facebook app.

5. To revoke access simply click the “x” sign and click on remove button

Authored by Shmyla Khan and Hamza Irshad

March 12, 2018 - Comments Off on February 2018: Mobile Networks Shutdown declared Illegal in Pakistan

February 2018: Mobile Networks Shutdown declared Illegal in Pakistan

Islamabad High Court Ruled Mobile Network Shutdowns Illegal

On February 26, 2018, Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a landmark judgement ruled mobile network shutdowns, including mobile based internet suspension, illegal. The judgment indicates that access to telecommunication services is a fundamental right of the citizens of Pakistan, and any attempt to suspend said services is a violation of their constitutional rights.

Read the update by Hija Kamran for Digital Rights Foundation in this blog post.

Civil Society condemns inhumane treatment of Sajid and Patras Masih by law enforcement officers

Civil society organisations and concerned citizens have issued a strong condemnation of the torture, inhumane treatment and sexual abuse of Patras Masih and Sajid Masih by the Cyber Crime Wing, FIA in Lahore. The statement in its entirety can be found here. In a statement signed by more than 180 collectives, civil society organisations and concerned citizens, serious concerns were raised regarding the treatment of marginalised groups by law enforcement agencies, specifically religious minorities. Press release can be found here.

Feminist Icon Asma Jahangir's death is an irreparable loss - DRF pays tribute

Photo: Wolfgang Schmidt

We are shocked and saddened by the death of Pakistan’s foremost human rights activist and feminist lawyer Asma Jahangir. Her death is not just a loss for the entire country, but a personal blow for younger activists who have always looked to her as their role model and leader in trying times. Read the tribute by DRF here.

Expert workshop on the right to privacy in the digital age - organised by OHCHR

Digital Rights Foundation was invited to be part of the expert workshop on the right to privacy in the digital age, organised by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) on February 19-20, 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop gathered government representatives, lawmakers, civil society organisations and individuals, and businesses to identify and clarify principles, standards and best practices regarding the promotion and protection of the right to privacy in the digital age, including the responsibility of business enterprises in this regard. The objective of the workshop was the exchange of international, regional and national experiences and practices concerning the protection and promotion of the right to privacy in the digital age. The concept note for the workshop can be found here [PDF].

Nighat Dad represented DRF on the panel titled "Processing of personal data by individuals, governments, business enterprises and private organisations", and discussed the absence of a privacy law or a data protection legislation in Pakistan. In her opinion, telecommunication operators starting to work in Pakistan benefit from the fact that there are no local laws to protect users, and in practice these companies do not observe the same procedures as they do elsewhere, where legislation is in force. Nighat also discussed the system of mass surveillance in cities – sometimes in the ‘safe city’ projects that are being rolled out. There is no transparency about the collection, processing and distribution of data in ‘safe cities’, and in the absence of any data protection legislation, the data of 200 million Pakistanis is constantly at risk. Watch the recorded discussion here (01:46:10 mark).

Safer Internet Day

Digital Rights Foundation conducted a session on cyberbullying with students of grade 6, 7, 8 and 9 on account of Safer Internet Day at the Iqra Education Centre, Lahore. The session raised awareness amongst the students regarding the safer usage of the internet and also emphasized on the importance of reporting bullying in schools and online.

Youth Summit hosted by Punjab Commission on Status of Women

Nighat Dad participated in a plenary discussion organised by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) as part of the Youth Summit at University of Lahore on February 12. The panel was titled Means to Enhance Women's Political, Social and Economic Participation'. The discussion shed light on women’s participation and Nighat highlighted the digital aspect of that participation.

Lecture on Cyber Crime and Digital Evidence at Lahore Bar Council

This lecture was part of a series at the Lahore Bar Council. On February 15, Nighat Dad briefed practicing lawyers in the nascent issues relating to digital rights, cyber crime and the law of evidence in digital contexts. The session was interactive and raised several pertinent questions regarding the law and digital spaces.

Women in Law Seminar

In partnership with LEARN Pakistan, DRF helped organize a seminar for female lawyers focusing on issues of technology, harassment and participation in digital spaces. The speakers at the event shared their experience as well as offering solutions to misogyny faced by those in the field.

District Peace Seminar organised by Rotary Club, Lahore

Nighat Dad spoke at the District Peace Seminar organised by Rotary Club Lahore to promote peace in the region. Nighat spoke about the prevailing trend of online media as the primary means of communication among youth and how this platform can be used to promote peace within communities and societies. She also emphasised on the importance of making online spaces safe for everyone by taking individual and collective efforts while ensuring their own online presence is secured through various online safety measures in place.

Empowering Women for Growth & Prosperity: From Evidence to Policy

Nighat Dad spoke at the conference titled “Empowering Women for Growth and Prosperity: From Evidence to Policy” organised by Lead Pakistan on February 8, 2018 in Islamabad. The aim of the conference was to discuss the many issues faced by women that actively hinder their growth in the society. Nighat’s intervention was based on highlighting the role of digital media in transforming people’s lives and how this can be effectively used in favour of women’s success in today’s world. Nighat focused on creating safe spaces for women, both online and offline, and emphasised that their participation in the economic growth is as important as anyone else’s.

February 27, 2018 - Comments Off on Islamabad High Court Ruled Mobile Network Shutdowns Illegal

Islamabad High Court Ruled Mobile Network Shutdowns Illegal

“[...] the practice adopted by the Authority to direct the mobile cellular operators to suspend its operations without prior notice or information is without lawful authority and jurisdiction;”

The court order further states that the federal government is not authorised to command suspension of mobile services without prior notice and justification, and the suspension of the operations can only be justified if the President exercises the power relating to the proclamation of an emergency, as per section 54 (3) of the Pakistan Telecommunications Act of 1996. However, the President doesn’t have the authority to independently proclaim emergency in order to suspend mobile network and services related to it.

The ruling is one of its kind, declaring suspension of mobile services unlawful and in violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, freedom of association, freedom of trade, business or profession, freedom of speech, and right to information under Article 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 19-A respectively of the Constitution of Pakistan.

“[...] the suspension of mobile phone services by the Authority is ultra vires of section 54; the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 10-A, 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 19-A are violated when mobile phone users are deprived from availing the services; access to telecommunication services has become a fundamental right.”

It has been held that section 54 can only be employed under the following circumstances: “(i) war or (ii) hostilities against Pakistan by any foreign power or (iii) internal aggression or (iv) defense or security of Pakistan.” Thus “apprehensions relating to public safety, law and order or the happening of an untoward incident can by no stretch of the imagination attract section 54(2).”

The judgment of the Islamabad High Court, which can be found here, is the result of the petitions filed by Advocate Hadiya Aziz, Umer Ijaz Gilani, Mian Shafqat Jan, and Ibrar Bashir before Justice Athar Minallah.

According to Hadiya Aziz,

“It was becoming way too frequent that mobile services were suspended on the basis of mere apprehension to national security which is an infringement of the fundamental rights of customers as well as service providers. This judgment is a milestone achieved in protecting the digital rights of the citizens which are a part of human rights and basic fundamental rights of the people.”

The history of network suspension in Pakistan is particularly rich given that mobile networks have routinely been shutdown on multiple instances and occasions on account of national security or in the wake of unforeseen incidents. This history dates back to as long as the internet has been around in Pakistan - resulting in the government to take disproportionate steps to stifle the flow of information and communication for which internet has become one of the primary sources since social media have become mainstream.

In 2016, DAWN reported that Pakistan experienced six internet shutdowns between June 2015 and July 2016 which resulted in the loss of $70 million for Pakistan’s economy which is already on the brink of the cliffs. While the economic loss that results in such kinds of unfair actions is unrecoverable, it is also imperative to discuss that these measures cost citizens a great deal of inconvenience and discomfort.

This is reflective in incidents like that of March 2015 when the government of Pakistan ordered the mobile networks to be suspended within 5 kilometer radius of the Pakistan Day parade site, which affected a major hospital, an airport, and businesses near Islamabad. This is not an isolated case and certainly not first of its kind.

On occasions like religious processions and festivities, and during political upheaval, the internet was partly or, in some cases, completely suspended in attempts to control news from being delivered to the citizens - most recent example being the countrywide riots on November 22, 2017 that were stemmed from the government’s operation against Faizabad protesters in Islamabad. The authorities ordered all news channels and social media and communications platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp be suspended on both broadband and mobile based internet. This only contributed to false news being circulated among people furthering into confusion and chaos while leaving people stranded with no confirmed information at their disposal.

In June 2016, in the wake of an armed clash between Pak-Afghan forces at the Torkham border, the government, in an immoderate attempt to control information, suspended what was available of the mobile based internet in the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA). The DRF did an initial report on how this internet shutdown bars the people of FATA from seeking justice following the years of oppression and discrimination the 4.5 million residents of the semi-autonomous tribal region. Following the report, a DRF representative discussed how this internet shutdown has further affected the people of FATA on a personal level, indicating that such attempts are not just political, but also personally endangering. To this date, FATA remains disconnected from the rest of the world.

Certainly, FATA isn’t the only place that has been under internet blackout since indefinite period of time in Pakistan. In fact, parts of Balochistan have experienced routine shutdowns, including the one in effect today in Turbat. Balochistan Voices, a local news website, updates in a post that prior to the shutdown, the main source of internet for the residents of Turbat remained 3G/4G internet, but now people are only left with the internet provided by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) whose services are unreliable due to outdated infrastructure. Whereas, Balochistan Point highlights that Kalat and other districts of Balochistan have been under internet blackout since a year.

It’s indispensable that internet shutdowns affect lives and businesses to a great extent, and as per the new ruling by IHC, they also infringe citizens’ fundamental rights enshrined under the Constitution of Pakistan. In the light of this ruling, it becomes extremely crucial to understand that the flow of information and people’s right to access information cannot and should not be affected under circumstances that can’t be justified or supported under the laws of land.

This ruling serves as a positive benchmark to grant citizens of Pakistan their constitutional right to access. And with the movement around FATA Reforms gaining momentum, it’s also important that digital rights be made part of these reforms - something that the youth of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) has been advocating for along with the demands of other fundamental and human rights.

Additionally, it is expected of the concerned government authorities to immediately restore access to mobile networks and 3G/4G internet services in the areas that have been deprived of them since indefinite period of time, particularly in FATA and areas of Balochistan.

With the advent of technology, it’s absolutely necessary that as much as we demand our rights in the offline spaces, digital rights should be made part of the mainstream discourse, so people have unrestricted access to online spaces at all times.

By Hija Kamran

February 26, 2018 - Comments Off on Demands of the Civil Society: We strongly condemn behaviour of law enforcement authorities in blasphemy case

Demands of the Civil Society: We strongly condemn behaviour of law enforcement authorities in blasphemy case

Civil society strongly condemns behaviour of law enforcement authorities in blasphemy case

We as civil society organisations and concerned citizens condemn in the strongest possible terms the torture and inhumane treatment of Patras Masih and Sajid Masih by the FIA in Lahore. Not only is this a complete violation of the rights of the accused enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan, but seriously undermines the credibility of law enforcement agencies to protect citizens.
Blasphemy allegations emerged against the accused, Patras Masih, 17 years old, in Shahdara last week. Announcements were made through mosque loudspeakers identifying the accused, alleging that he shared “blasphemous content” on social media supposedly on January 16, 2018. The Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and other religious parties blocked the Shahdara intersection, incited violence against the family and demanded the arrest of Patras Masih. These threats have endangered the entire Christian community living in Dhir village in Shahdara Town, resulting in some fleeing their homes. An FIR was registered against Patras (FIR No. 174/18) on February 19 at the Shahdara Town Police Station under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code that carries a mandatory death sentence.
The accused and his cousin, Sajid Masih, 24, were in the custody of the FIA at the Punjab Headquarters on February 23, 2018 when the incident in question occurred. In a sensitive and charged case of blasphemy, it was highly irregular and imprudent that, according to Pakistan Today, in addition to the complainants, members of the TLYR and other religious parties were also present at the FIA building at the time of the investigation.
It has come to light that around 6:00 PM, Sajid fell off the fourth floor of the FIA building resulting in serious injuries to his head and body. The FIA initially denied that such an incident had taken place. However, it has come to light that Sajid and Patras were tortured by officers of the cyber crime wing and were coerced into sexually assaulting one another. Sajid, pleaded with them to stop. As a last resort, in order to escape the torture and sexual abuse, he jumped off the fourth floor of the FIA building, where the cyber crime wing is located. Sajid is currently in the hospital recovering from his injuries.
We are seriously concerned regarding the treatment of marginalised groups by law enforcement agencies, specifically religious minorities. The state has a heightened duty to protect persecuted groups. Given the history of the blasphemy law being misused to target minority groups, it is egregious that the FIA completely failed to provide any security to the accused and the family. The law enforcement authorities have not only failed in their duty to protect minorities, but have actively participated in violence against them. The vulnerabilities of the accused were exploited by the law enforcement agency to sexually abuse and torture them. This is in direct violation of Article 14 of the Constitution and Pakistan’s international commitments under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).
As concerned members of civil society and organisations working on digital/human rights, we urge the government to hold the concerned law enforcement officers accountable and take active measures to ensure that Patras Masih and Sajid Masih are given the necessary security given the nature of the accusations made against them.

Demands of the Civil Society:

We demand the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Human Rights, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Senate Committee on Human Rights to,

Immediately WITHDRAW the FIR against Sajid Masih for attempted suicide given the fact that he was attempting to escape from the physical and psychological torture and sexual abuse being inflicted on him by state agencies. Section 325 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) is a regressive and colonial-era law that criminalises suicide, and will soon be repealed by the Criminal Laws Amendment Bill 2017.
Pursuant to the right to a fair trial enshrined under Article 10A of the Constitution, the accused must not be denied any of their civil liberties and rights. Patras and Sajid’s lawyer should be granted immediate ACCESS to the accused. Attempts to withhold their right to counsel will result in a violation of fundamental rights.
Security should be PROVIDED to the accused and their family in order to prevent the real and present threat of violence. Attacks against the accused and their family are common in cases of blasphemy and specifically in this case public threats have been issued, making the possibility of violence reasonably foreseeable. The accused has already been attacked outside court where he appeared for his remand hearing on February 23, 2018. Failure of the state to provide protection will constitute willful negligence on their part.
A full and independent INQUIRY of this incident should be conducted to hold the concerned law enforcement authority and officials accountable. The inquiry should be comprehensive, independent and transparent. The inquiry committee should specifically investigate the FIA officials involved for abuse of power, sexual assault and torture. Any withholding of information should be dealt with seriously.
Keeping Article 14 of the Constitution and Pakistan’s international commitments under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) in consideration, law enforcement agencies should be SEVERELY PENALISED for effectuating torture against the accused. Drastic measures should be in place to ensure that such incidents are not allowed to take place again.
ESTABLISH checks and balances on the abuse of power by law enforcement authorities, particularly for policing powers granted under the National Action Plan, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and terrorism-related legislation. The government is urged to REVIEW these powers and that the right balance is struck to ensure that there are protections in place for the accused.
An independent Civil Society Steering Committee needs to be SET UP to review and check the performance of the National Response Center for Cyber Crime (NR3C), FIA. This committee should include members of civil society, technical experts and parliamentarians. The recommendations and concerns raised by the Committee should be taken into account when reviewing the progress of the FIA under section 53 of PECA and determinations of funding by the Ministry of Interior.
Plans to incorporate provisions relating to blasphemy into the PECA need to be seriously RECONSIDERED given inability of the FIA to provide protection to the accused in such cases. Adding these provisions will effectively allow for the weaponization of blasphemy accusations without offsetting protections for the accused.
Special PROTOCOLS to be issued for law enforcement when processing cases of blasphemy, ensuring the rights and security of the accused. Only specially trained law enforcement officers should be allowed to investigate these cases, with oversight with the Steering Committee.
EFFORTS should be made to ensure that Investigating Officers and officials from minority groups are represented in law enforcement agencies. Quotas for women and minority groups need to be implemented with immediate effect and consistently across offices of the FIA.

Endorsed by:

Alpha Human Rights Care Association
Blackstone School of Law
Bolo Bhi
Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation (CICF)
Centre for Legal Aid Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS)
Courting The Law
Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD)
Democratic Students’ Alliance (DSA)
Digital Rights Foundation (DRF)
Dove Foundation Pakistan
Ending Violence against Women and Girls Alliance (EVAWG Alliance)
Freedom Network
Girls at Dhabas
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)
Institute for Peace and Secular Studies
Khwendo Kor
IRADA (Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development)
LAAS
Media Matters for Democracy (MMFD)
Minorities Rights Watch
National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP)
Network of Journalist for Digital Rights
New Emerging Development Organization (NEDO)
NET
Pakhtunkhwa Ullasi Tehrik
Pakistan Feminist Watch
Pattan
Rawadari Tehreek
SATH Pakistan
Shirkatgah
South Asian Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK)
Takkra Qabailee Khwendy
Tangh Development Society
The ASR Resource Centre
The Feminist Collective
The Institute of Women’s Studies, Lahore
The Voice Society
Women United for Digital Rights
Women’s Action Forum, Hyderabad
Women’s Action Forum, Islamabad
Women’s Action Forum, Karachi
Women’s Action Forum, Lahore
Women’s Action Forum, Peshawar
A. H. Nayyar
Adnan Ahmad Chaudhri
Aila Fill, NCJP
Akram Pervez
Aleena Rashid
Ali Kamran
Amber Rahim Shamsi, Journalist
Amna Mir
Anam Lodhi, Journalist
Anbreen Ajaib
Angbeen Atif Mirza, Advocate High Court
Arifa Mazhar
Asad Jamal, Advocate High Court
Asha Bedar
Asher Bhatti
Atiqa Shahid
Ayra Inderyas
Ayesha Khan
Barrister Hassan Niazi, Law Clinic
Bari Sarwar
Bilal Hasan Minto, Advocate Supreme Court
Bushra Gohar
Daniyal Yousaf
Dara Shikoh
Diep Saeeda
Dr. Parveen Ashraf
Dr Riaz Assi
Faheem Zafar
Farida Shaheed
Ferida Sher
Farooq Bashir
Fatima A. Athar
Fatima Anwar, Lawyer
Furhan Hussain
Ghazala Afghan
Haider Zafar
Hamza Irshad
Hiba Akbar, Advocate High Court
Hija Kamran
Hina Vahidy, Peace and Development Organisation
Hira Saleem, Advocate High Court
Hyra Basit
Humaira Sheikh
Iqbal Khattak, Freedom Network
Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir
Imran Nafees Siddiqui
James Rehmat, Ecumenical Commission for Human Development
Jannat Ali Kalyar, Barrister
Jannat Fazal
Jalila Haider
Javed Akhtar, Support With Working Solution (SWWS)
Jibran Nasir
Joseph Francis
Kashif Nemat, Advocate High Court
Khadija S. Ubeid, Attorney at Law
Khawar Mumtaz
Kiran Nazish, Journalist
Lala Hassan
Lala Rukh Khan
Luavut Zahid
Lynette Viccaji
Maham Ali
Maliha Zia Lari, Lawyer
Malik Faraz
Maria Chaudhry
Maria Rashid
Marium Khalid, Advocate High Court
Meera Ghani
Mohammad Tehseen
Muhammad Salman Khan, Queeristan
Musirah Farrukh
Nadeem Anthony
Nadia Jamil
Naeem Sadiq
Naeema Malik
Naheed Aziz
Nasir David
Nasir Saeed
Nasreen Kazmi
Naveed Fabian
Nazia Rafique Paul
Nazish Attaullah
Nyla Ahsan
Nighat Dad, digital rights activist/Advocate High Court
Nighat Said Khan
Nijah S. Khan
Noor Ejaz Chaudhry, Lawyer
Noreen Lehri
Nosheen Abbas Kazmi, Journalist
Omer Imran Malik, Associate; Mandviwalla and Zafar; CEO of Tahafuz Project
Pastor Shahid M.Paul Christ Assemblies Church International
Parveen Ashraf Hunzai
Prof. Farkhanda Aurangzeb
Ramis Sohail, Lawyer
Riaz Anjum, Advocate High Court
Roland deSouza
Rubina Saigal
Rukhsana Rashid
Rukhshanda Naz
Rukhshanda Naz, Advocate
Rumana Husain
Saadia Toor
Sabrina Dawood
Saddique John
Sadia Bukhari
Safdar Chaudhry
Safina Javed
Sajida Billy
Sajjad Anwar
Sana Mehmud
Sana Saleem
Sarah Zaman
Sarwar Bari
Seerat Khan
Sehar Tariq
Sehar Naveed
Shaukat Ali
Sheema Kermani, Tehreek e Niswan
Shireen Aslam
Shmyla Khan, Lawyer
Sourayya Frick Azam
Sumera Haq
Sumaira Ashfaq
Syed Ali Mehdi Zaidi, Teacher
Syed Nadeem Ahmad
Tahira Abdullah
Tanzila Mazhar, Journalist
Ujala Akram,
Victoria deSouza
Watson Gill
Yousaf Benjamin
Yousaf Mubark
Zahra Khan, Thrive Pakistan
Zehra Zaidi, Lawyer
Ziauddin Yousafzai, UN Special Advisor on Global Education
Zohra Yousaf
Zoya Rehman, Researcher
Zubeida Mustafa

February 25, 2018 - Comments Off on Statement: Civil society strongly condemns behaviour of LEAs in blasphemy case

Statement: Civil society strongly condemns behaviour of LEAs in blasphemy case

February 26, 2018
PRESS RELEASE

Subject: Civil society strongly condemns behaviour of law enforcement authorities in alleged blasphemy case

Civil society organisations and concerned citizens have issued a strong condemnation of the torture, inhumane treatment and sexual abuse of Patras Masih and Sajid Masih by the Cyber Crime Wing, FIA in Lahore. The statement in its entirety can be found here: https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/demands-to-the-ministry-civil-society-strongly-condemns-behaviour-of-law-enforcement-authorities-in-blasphemy-case/.

The 17 year-old accused, Patras Masih, was accused of allegedly posting blasphemous material on social media. Masih belongs to the Christian community in Shahdara, which has been under siege since the last week by the Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) and other religious parties who demanded Masid be punished and incited violence against the family. These threats have endangered the entire Christian community living in Dhir village in Shahdara Town, resulting in some fleeing their homes. An FIR was registered against Patras (FIR No. 174/18) on February 19 at the Shahdara Town Police Station under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code.

On February 23, 2018, Patras Masih and his cousin, Sajid Masih, were in the custody of the FIA at the Lahore headquarters when the abuse by law enforcement officials took place. Around 6:00 PM, Sajid fell off the fourth floor of the FIA building resulting in serious injuries to his head and body. It has come to light that Sajid and Patras were tortured by officers of the cyber crime wing and were coerced into sexually assaulting one another. Sajid, pleaded with them to stop. As a last resort, in order to escape the torture and sexual abuse, he jumped off the fourth floor of the FIA building, where the cyber crime wing is located. Sajid is currently in the hospital recovering from his injuries. Nighat Dad, Executive Director of Digital Rights Foundation, pointed out that “as a law enforcement body, it is the duty of the FIA to ensure that there are safeguards in place to ensure that the accused are accorded their rights. It is the bedrock of the criminal justice system and the FIA has failed to do so in this case.”

In a statement signed by more than 150 collectives, civil society organisations and concerned citizens serious concerns were raised regarding the treatment of marginalised groups by law enforcement agencies, specifically religious minorities. The state has a heightened duty to protect persecuted groups. Given the history of the blasphemy law being misused to target minority groups, it is egregious that the FIA completely failed to provide any security to the accused and the family. The law enforcement authorities have not only failed in their duty to protect minorities, but have actively participated in violence against them.

In a series of demands, the government has been called upon to immediately withdraw the FIR for attempted suicide against Sajid and ensure that the accused and their family are provided with effective security. Demands has also been made to conduct an independent inquiry into the matter and penalise any abuse of power by the concerned officials. The statement also calls for effective oversight of law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable and prevent abuse of power. Special protocols and procedures should be in place to deal with cases, such as blasphemy, where the lives of the accused are in danger. Lastly, the statement cautions against the proposed amendments to add blasphemy offences to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, given the inability of the state to protect those accused under the law.

The statement has been endorsed by organisations such as Huma Rights Commission of Pakistan, Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), Bolo Bhi, National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), South Asian Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK), Shirkatgah, Minorities Rights Watch as well as collectives including Girls at Dhabas, Women’s Action Forum Chapters of Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Hyderabad and Peshawar, the Feminist Collective, Network of Journalists for Digital Rights and Women United for Digital Rights.

Contact Information
Nighat Dad
nighat@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

February 12, 2018 - Comments Off on Digital Rights Foundation mourns death of feminist icon Asma Jahangir

Digital Rights Foundation mourns death of feminist icon Asma Jahangir

Photo: Wolfgang Schmidt

As a woman-led organisation, we are indebted to the path that Asma paved for us through Pakistan’s first women-run law firm, AGHS. As a team consisting of lawyers and young feminists, we stand on Asma’s shoulders and tread the path blazed by her.

For a women’s rights organisation, Asma has built the framework that we operate in, carved the tools that we use to assert our rights and set the standards that we strive for. Asma fought tirelessly for the right of women to chose; her exceptional contributions are too numerous to recount. She successfully took up Saima Waheed case, which guaranteed the right of adult women to make their own choice in marriage--one of the most important cases in Pakistan’s legal history.

Asma has set the gold standard for principled stances. Her work to uphold the freedom of expression is particularly close to what we stand for and we hope to carry on her legacy. Asma stood shoulder to shoulder with us in our opposition to the draconian cyber crime bill, and having her as an ally lifted our spirits and bolstered our cause. We knew that Asma could always be counted on. We are devastated to have lost our pillar of support.

As a feminist, Asma was unapologetic in the positions she took and was unfazed by the hatred that was directed at her. Being a woman in the public eye, she was not shy of being political and did not allow herself to be weighed down by propaganda and sexist rhetoric directed at her. Asma was firm in her convictions and demonstrated lifelong commitment to the cause of democratic freedoms. She appeared in the history books at the remarkable age of 20 when she appeared in court to represent her father, Malik Ghulam Jilani, who was jailed by the military government of Yahya Khan.

Asma has always been a role model for younger feminists; a household name. While Asma, as a lawyer, a human rights activist, and as a person, is irreplaceable, we hope to replicate her resilience and courage as younger feminists stepping into these public forums.

We offer our deepest condolences to Asma’s family, friends, and all those across the world whose lives were touched by Asma’s unfettered resilience and support. It’s an end of an era, but certainly not an end of her legacy.

February 9, 2018 - Comments Off on January 2018: Big Month for Advocacy as DRF Engages with Government

January 2018: Big Month for Advocacy as DRF Engages with Government

DRF Submits Recommendations for Journalists Safety Bill

Digital Rights Foundation, along with Bolo Bhi, Media Matters for Democracy, and Network of Female Journalists for Digital Rights, submitted recommendations on Journalists Safety Bill to the Senate Standing Committee on Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage. The recommendations were a step by the civil society to urge lawmakers to take the online and offline safety of female journalists into account when drafting the new legislation.

The recommendations were accepted by the standing committee and were made part of the final draft of the bill. These recommendations can be accessed here.

DRF releases new report "Digital (in)Security of Journalists in Pakistan"

Digital Rights Foundation has launched its new report titled "Digital (in)security of Journalists in Pakistan" which explores the levels of digital threats that journalists face, records their experiences of online insecurity, and concludes what protections they desire from the journalists community, their respective media organisations, and the government.

The report points at the appalling condition of online harassment and the sense of discomfort that journalists face while being online because of their work. It finds that 78% of the respondents of the survey had experienced some form of online threat or harassment; 92% respondents think that online harassment is really common; 45.5% of them thought that online insecurity resulted in them self-censoring themselves; and 56% of them think that online insecurity is tied with their physical safety.

In the light of some really serious stats collected form the working journalists, the DRF has put forward some recommendations that the journalists can benefit from if they are implemented in the form of policies.

The report can be accessed here.

Meeting with Interior Minister on phase 3 of the NR3C and recommendations presented by DRF

The government is currently close to confirming funding for Phase: 3 of the NR3C project. As part of the multi-stakeholder process, DRF, along with other civil society organizations, was invited to a meeting with the Interior Ministry on January 25, 2017. Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed on the need for virtual solutions to ensure ease of access for complainants. DRF presented its recommendations to the government regarding reforms at the FIA to ensure greater access and gender-sensitivity for complainants pursuing cases of online harassment.

Digital Rights Foundation attended PITB Roundtable Conference

Nighat Dad and Jannat Ali of DRF attended the Punjab Board of Information Technology (PITB) round table conference held on 8th January 2018 in Lahore. Among the main agenda points the need for increasing digital literacy and reducing digital divide were also discussed.

DRF attends Provincial Conference organised by CAN Pakistan

Nighat Dad and Jannat Ali attended the Provincial Conference on “Setting the Way Forward to Ensure Child Protection in Punjab” on 5th January. It was organised by Children Advocacy Network- CAN Pakistan with the support of the Australian High Commission. The focus of the conference was to strengthen the capacities of key stakeholders engaged in dealing with children in Punjab.

DRF releases its Year in Review for 2017

Digital Rights Foundation launches its Year in Review report for the year 2017. The report features the number of people that we've reached through our various events including workshops and conferences, the milestones that we have achieved, the reports that we have released, and the events that we have organised among other things that had our attention throughout the year 2017.

It also features a section dedicated to the Cyber Harassment Helpline, and the testimonials from some of the wonderful team members of the helpline.

With this report, our aim is to highlight the work that DRF has done, and to thank each and every one of you who supported us throughout our struggle to make online spaces safe and accessible for everyone.

We know the fight is not going to be easy, but by supporting each other, we are certain that we'll overcome every challenge that comes our way.

Access the report here.

February 2, 2018 - Comments Off on Digital Rights Foundation Launched Report: “Digital (in)Security of Journalists in Pakistan”

Digital Rights Foundation Launched Report: “Digital (in)Security of Journalists in Pakistan”

PRESS RELEASE
Digital Rights Foundation
January 2, 2018

DIGITAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION LAUNCHED REPORT: “DIGITAL (IN)SECURITY OF JOURNALISTS IN PAKISTAN”

Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) conducted a nationwide survey on the state of security of journalists to shed light on the threats and concerns journalists face online, which runs parallel to the harassment journalists face offline. This report, titled “Digital (In)Security of Journalists in Pakistan” seeks to map and understand the digital risks that journalists face in Pakistan and suggests policy interventions based on the data collected.

66% of the journalists who participated in the survey responded that they had suffered online insecurity. Journalists face issues of digital security in various ways including blackmail, hacking, threats, sexual harassment, data theft, stalking, and attacks through malware or phishing emails. The survey was divided in two parts; the ﬁrst part inquired journalists’ understanding of digital security. The second part was only addressed to journalists who had experienced online threats or harassment – 68% of total respondents had faced online threats or harassment, hence proving that the majority is exposed to online insecurity.

The second part of the survey was focused on online harassment and the gendered nature of digital insecurity. 72% of female journalists and 61% of male journalists experienced digital insecurity. When female journalists were asked how the harassment of female and male journalists differs, 71% reported that female journalists are more likely to be attacked on their appearance. Similarly, 68% of them also believe that female journalists are attacked more than male journalists on their personal lives.

In another question, we asked journalists how online insecurity affected their journalism careers. 45.5% respondents said that online insecurity resulted in self-censorship. The survey learnt that 92% of the respondents believe that online harassment in journalism is either “extremely common” or “common”. Only 8% of respondents believe that online harassment is rare or extremely rare.

This report seeks to posit recommendations to lawmakers with reference to the under-consideration Journalist Protection Bill. The first draft of the Bill did not include provisions for the digital security of journalists, thus the aim of this report is to advocate for lawmakers to also consider that journalists be protected online to keep censorship at bay, and to safeguard their mental health, quality of work, physical security of journalists and freedom of the press.

The report also found a dire need for organizations to realize the nature of this threat and for them to conduct trainings for digital security and privacy. Only 24% of the respondents reported to have received training of digital security and privacy, and a good 76% remain unaware of the possible ways to tackle this issue. Media organizations fail their employees in another way as 60% of the respondents admitted that their media organization has no policy to report or deal with online threats/harassment. And the 42% of the journalists who filed a complaint were given no follow up.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s National Response Centre for Cyber Crime (NR3C) has failed to make a substantial change on two counts. While the FIA set up the NR3C almost a decade ago, they have failed to disseminate information about how digital threats and crimes can be reported to them. Thus, out of all the respondents who face digital insecurity, only 9% reported their cases to the FIA. This number, again, goes to show that the cyber crime wing is hardly being used the way it was meant to be. DRF has submitted recommendations to the NR3C from a victim-based approach that include greater accessibility and complainant-friendly practices.

Digital Rights Foundation is a registered research-based advocacy non-governmental organization in Pakistan. Founded by Nighat Dad in 2012, DRF focuses on ICTs to support human rights, inclusiveness, democratic processes, and digital governance. DRF works on issues of online free speech, privacy, data protection and online violence against women. DRF has worked with several journalists through workshops to provide them with digital security tools, established a “Network of Female Journalists for Digital Security” and published a guidebook titled “Digital Security for Journalists”.

Contact person:
Nighat Dad, Executive Director, Digital Rights Foundation
nighat@digitalrightsfoundation.pk

January 7, 2018 - Comments Off on December 2017: One Year of the Cyber Harassment Helpline Countering Online Violence

December 2017: One Year of the Cyber Harassment Helpline Countering Online Violence

The Cyber Harassment Helpline Completes its One Year

As the Digital Rights Foundation’s Cyber Harassment Helpline completes its one year, the team compiles and releases its first one-year report. The report [PDF] contains data collected by the Helpline which highlights the nature and extent of the problem of online harassment. The Report also contains recommendations for public bodies to improve their institutional response to online harassment. Read more...

DRF Launches the Network of Female Journalists for Online Safety

Digital Rights Foundation marked the launch of their Network of Female Journalists on Online Safety on 12th December. The launch was coupled with a two-day advance training with 28 female journalists from across Pakistan.

The objective of the network is to empower female journalists to practice and promote online safety within media houses and to raise awareness regarding digital rights issues in mainstream media. Journalists were made aware about reporting on digital rights issues leading to improved quality of reporting when talking about the said rights.

The network will ensure quick and easy access to DRF’s Cyber Harassment Helpline to journalists and human rights defenders. The helpline is the first of its kind in Pakistan and provides legal advice, digital security support, and psychological counseling to the victims of cyber harassment.

DRF Presented at IGF 2017 in Geneva

Digital Rights Foundation is at the Twelfth Annual Internet Governance Forum (IGF) happening in Geneva, Switzerland from 18th to 21st of December, 2017. The dynamic get-together of diverse stakeholders will discuss pressing public policy issues related to the digital world. It allows all participants to share their experiences and debate, as equals, the opportunities and challenges arising from the process of digitization. Read the details of the interventions by DRF here.

Reviewing the Right to Privacy in Pakistan

Digital Rights Foundation (DRF) and Bolo Bhi organized the “Reviewing the Right to Privacy in Pakistan Roundtable” at the Islamabad Hotel, Islamabad on Thursday, December 7th, 2017.

The goal of the roundtable was to have a comprehensive and interactive discussion with relevant stakeholders about data protection and the right to privacy in Pakistan. International and national trends and developments in regards to digital rights, freedom of expression online, and data protection measures were discussed at the event.

The conference covered the themes of data protection and privacy on the internet within the Pakistani context through participatory sessions with participants. The first panel, titled “Data Protection and the Open Government Partnership Process”, was moderated by Nighat Dad, and shed light on the commitments made by the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT), under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) process, to introduce a data protection law in Pakistan. The panelists included Ali Mohyuddin and Ebrar Rashid from NADRA, Arzak Khan, Saad Saleem, the co-founder of Nayatel, Imran Haider from FIA, Natalia Tariq from Open Society Foundations, Saleha Zahid from Bolo Bhi, and Jannat Ali Kalyar from DRF.

The second panel, titled “The Right to Privacy through Gendered Lens”, addressed the gendered nature of the right to privacy, with particular focus on the gendered experiences of this right. The panel, moderated by Zoya Rehman, brought together a diverse set of perspectives to discuss the variations as well as overlap of the gendered nature of the privacy discourse within Pakistan. The panelists, which included Khawar Mumtaz, chairperson of NCSW, Shmyla Khan of DRF, Mehlab Jameel, Fatima Anwar from Engage Foundation, and Dr. Safieh Shah, further discussed how privacy from a gender perspective is a vital part of the larger discourse on internet rights.

#HamaraInternetKyaHai: DRF launched its campaign for 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women

Digital Rights Foundation has been working on women's safe access to technology since it was founded in 2012, and we always try to keep our narrative unbiased and our conversations inclusive. Some of our team members were actively involved in the drafting of the Feminist Principles of the Internet also, and implement their learning and knowledge along with these principles in our projects in Pakistan that primarily involve advocating for a feminist internet, while promoting digital security and countering online gender based violence.

With this year's 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women, we decided to mainstream the feminist internet discourse in Pakistan - a topic that has not been highlighted all that much here - through the hashtag #HamaraInternetKyaHai (Urdu for What is Our Internet?). Our communications team strategised and executed the campaign keeping multiple approaches in mind, making sure people understand the narrative and engage in the conversation. And we're truly glad that they did take part in the conversation through various mediums, be it by comments and tweets on social media, or via expressing their interest directly to the DRF team members, or through the Cyber Harassment Helpline that we launched in 2016 and is accessible to people via toll-free number.

Here's the breakdown of the activities that we did as part of DRF's 16 Days of Activism:

- A colourful and catchy visual that depicts inclusivity

- Two Tweet Chats with DRF's team members, and wonderful feminists who advocate for a feminist internet in Pakistan. We've compiled these chats here in chronological order: https://www.scoop.it/t/16-days-of-activism-2017

- A blogpost on why does a feminist internet matter, by Fatima Athar:
https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/why-does-a-feminist-internet-matter/

- A blogpost on how harassment hinders women's access to public spaces, both online and offline - by Hyra Basit: https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/harassment-hinders-womens-access-to-public-and-online-spaces/

- We made this short and extremely powerful video depicting how women fall victim of a technological breach, and this is further used by the harassers to abuse victims and blackmail them into meeting more of their demands:

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalRightsFoundation/videos/976245469182682/

This video proved to be important in two ways in the context of Pakistan; a) a lot of people who reached out to us with a feedback on the campaign accepted that this video has helped them accept that it's not a woman's fault if someone bypasses technological loopholes and records them in their private space, where they're supposed to be feeling safe, and b) they understood that digital security is really important to be practiced. A lot of them also said that they covered their webcams after watching this video.

- And lastly, we launched completed our first year of the Cyber Harassment Helpline and released the one-year report based on our findings and experiences of operating a national level helpline that is also first of its kind. Access the report through this post: https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/the-cyber-harassment-helpline-completes-one-year-of-its-operations/

Content Regulation in the Digital Age – DRF’s Submission to the Human Rights Council Report 2018

On December 20th, 2017, Digital Rights Foundation submitted its response to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, for the upcoming study, “Content Regulation in the Digital Age” as part of the June 2018 Human Rights Council Report.

This submission is a precursor to DRF’s future plans to investigate the role of the private sector in regulating Pakistan’s online spaces, and sets the background for further advocacy revolving around online content regulation in Pakistan, while observing how this largely falls under the ambit of the government. Read more...

Consultation Meeting with Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA)

Trust for democratic education and Accountability held an orientation consultation on Promoting the Human Rights And Electoral Participation of People with Disabilities (PWD), Transgender people and women in Pakistan on 12th till 14th of December 2017. The meeting brought together human rights defenders from all over the country to discuss inclusiveness in elections and the role of the civil society organizations.

DRF and TDEA Signed a Memorandum of Understanding

DRF and TDEA signed an MOU to increase inclusiveness and capacities of people with disabilities (pwd), transgender people and women in the upcoming elections. DRF became one of the founding members of Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan (CIP).

Orientation Meeting with TDEA

DRF and TDEA conducted a small consultation meeting on 20th of December 2017 with women from diverse backgrounds to discuss about the importance of voting and the legal rights women have in Pakistan. Through the consultation women identified the problems they face while contesting for elections and voting and what needs to be done by the election commission and political parties to make the political environment better.

Session at the Punjab Revenue Authority

Representatives from DRF delivered an interactive session at the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) with their young interns on digital rights, online harassment and using the internet as a tool to hold government officials accountable. DRF also conducted interactive exercises to help students harass the internet for awareness-raising and dissemination of information.

Online Violence Against Women in Pakistan - Submission to UNSR on Violence Against Women

Digital Rights Foundation submitted its response to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women. This report explores the laws and institutions that are in place within Pakistan to deal with issues of online violence against women. Facts and figures are used to gauge the extent of the problem and its nature, relying on data provided by the government, law enforcement agencies and collected by DRF. A legal analysis of the legislation ise accompanied by an appraisal of the implementation of the laws and the functioning of institutions on the ground. Reported judgments are analysed to gauge jurisprudence (interpretations of the laws) as well as legal principles developed by local courts. The purpose of the report is not only to analyse the existing structures, but to situate them within the lived experiences of women facing online violence. This experience is elucidated through case studies as well as analysis done by DRF’s cyber harassment helpline team.

We hope that this submission will provide a sufficient overview of the regulatory and social landscape in Pakistan with relation to online violence against women. The report can be accessed here.

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Islamabad High Court Ruled Mobile Network Shutdowns Illegal

Civil Society condemns inhumane treatment of Sajid and Patras Masih by law enforcement officers

Feminist Icon Asma Jahangir's death is an irreparable loss - DRF pays tribute

Expert workshop on the right to privacy in the digital age - organised by OHCHR

Safer Internet Day

Youth Summit hosted by Punjab Commission on Status of Women

Lecture on Cyber Crime and Digital Evidence at Lahore Bar Council

Women in Law Seminar

District Peace Seminar organised by Rotary Club, Lahore

Empowering Women for Growth & Prosperity: From Evidence to Policy

Demands of the Civil Society:

Endorsed by:

DRF Submits Recommendations for Journalists Safety Bill

DRF releases new report "Digital (in)Security of Journalists in Pakistan"

Meeting with Interior Minister on phase 3 of the NR3C and recommendations presented by DRF

Digital Rights Foundation attended PITB Roundtable Conference

DRF attends Provincial Conference organised by CAN Pakistan

DRF releases its Year in Review for 2017

The Cyber Harassment Helpline Completes its One Year

DRF Launches the Network of Female Journalists for Online Safety

DRF Presented at IGF 2017 in Geneva

Reviewing the Right to Privacy in Pakistan

#HamaraInternetKyaHai: DRF launched its campaign for 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women

Content Regulation in the Digital Age – DRF’s Submission to the Human Rights Council Report 2018

Consultation Meeting with Trust for Democratic Education and Accountability (TDEA)

DRF and TDEA Signed a Memorandum of Understanding

Orientation Meeting with TDEA

Session at the Punjab Revenue Authority

Online Violence Against Women in Pakistan - Submission to UNSR on Violence Against Women