Workshop on Internet Shutdowns in Ethiopia and the Way Forward

DESCRIPTION

The “Workshop on Internet Shutdown in Ethiopia and Way Forward” is an essential online webinar session organized to address the pressing issue of Internet shutdowns in Ethiopia. This event aims to gather a diverse group of experts, advocates, and stakeholders to discuss the multifaceted impacts of Internet disruptions on society, economy, and governance. The workshop will provide a platform for in-depth discussions, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning to mitigate the adverse effects of Internet shutdowns and explore sustainable solutions for maintaining uninterrupted access to digital communication.

We have invited a distinguished panel of speakers, each bringing a diverse set of expertise to the subject. Our panel includes Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana, a digital rights lawyer specializing in legal frameworks at national and regional levels; Brian Tshuma, a Trust and Safety professional lawyer and doctoral researcher at King’s Digital Humanities; and Ameha Mekonnen, the Founding Director of ‘Lawyers for Human Rights’ with extensive experience in defending freedom of expression and contributing to notable human rights organizations. The session will be moderated by Mesenbet Assefa (Ph.D), who has a wealth of experience in technology and law, data privacy, freedom of expression, international law.

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Date: Aug 02, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM EAT  |  12:00 UTC + 1  |  7:00 ከሰዓት በኋላ

Platform: Zoom Platform (Virtual)

The webinar will feature a series of presentations and panel discussions, covering topics such as the historical context of Internet shutdowns in Ethiopia, the legal and human rights implications, and the socio-economic consequences of such disruptions. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the speakers through interactive Q&A sessions, fostering a collaborative environment for exchanging ideas and strategies. The event will also highlight case studies and best practices from other regions, offering valuable insights into potential solutions and preventive measures.

As we navigate the digital age, ensuring continuous and reliable Internet access is crucial for the development and democratization of Ethiopia. This workshop aims to build a collective understanding and propose actionable steps towards achieving this goal. We invite policymakers, civil society organizations, academics, and the general public to join us in this critical discussion, as we work together to safeguard the digital rights of all Ethiopians and pave the way for a more connected and resilient future. 

Who Should Attend:

  • Human rights advocates
  • Policy makers
  • Researchers and academics
  • Legal professionals
  • Civil society organisations
  • Anyone interested in the impact of internet shutdowns and potential solutions

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts and contribute to the conversation on ensuring open and accessible internet in Ethiopia and beyond.

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Event Agenda

Time 
(UTC+00:00)
ActivityResponsible Person
12:05 – 12:12Workshop Introduction Objective and ExpectationsModerator, Dr. Mesenbet Assefa
12:12 – 12:22Welcoming  Remark 
Opening Remark		Dr. Asrat Mulatu, President, ISOC Ethiopia Chapter
Mr. Ameha Mekonnen, Executive Director of LHR
12:27 – 12:52“A Journey Through Landmark Court Cases: Amnesty International Togo case, Guinea Conakry case and the Twitter case”Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana, Executive Director, DIGICIVIC Initiative
13:00 – 13:25“Approaches to strategic litigation-In Internet Shutdown”Brian Tshuma, King’s Institute for Artificial Inteligence, KCL
13:32 – 13:57“Challenges litigating Internet Shutdowns in Domestic Courts”Ameha Mekonen, Executive Director of Lawyers for Human Rights:
13:57 – 14:22Q & A  SessionModerated by Dr Mesenbet Assefa
14:22 – 14:30Way Forward and Concluding RemarksAmeha Mekonen, Executive Director of Lawyers for Human Rights:
14:30 – 14:35Closing
session agenda

Speaker’s Bio


Ameha Mekonnen Asfaw holds an LL.B from Addis Ababa University and an LL.M in Human Rights Law from the University of Essex, UK. He has served as a Senior Prosecutor, Head of the Ministry of Justice’s Branch Office in Addis Ababa, and lectured at various universities. As an attorney and consultant, Ameha has defended freedom of expression, representing journalists, bloggers, and opposition leaders accused of terrorism. He has chaired the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and founded the ‘Network of Digital Rights for Ethiopia’. Currently, he is the Founding Director of ‘Lawyers for Human Rights’. His accolades include the Sakharov Fellowship, the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, and a Certificate of Recognition from Addis Ababa University School of Law.

Brian Tshuma is a Trust and Safety professional and a lawyer (information tech & corporate) admitted in Zimbabwe. He served as a member of the 6th and 7th Parliament of Zimbabwe, contributing to the portfolio committee on information technologies. Brian graduated from the African School of Internet Governance and is an alumnus of both the Internet Society Mid-Career Professional Fellowship and the Internet Shutdown Scholar’s Program. Currently, he is conducting doctoral research at King’s Digital Humanities, focusing on the governance of algorithmic technologies in the global south. Brian is also affiliated with the King’s Institute of AI and the Responsible Robotics and AI Lab, a UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe and Trustworthy AI. He is working on projects focused on the governance of deathtech, synthetic videos, social robots, and creating Community Datasets for Machine Learning in global south contexts.

Mojirayo Oluwatoyin Ogunlana is a digital rights lawyer on a mission to establish a legal framework at national and regional levels that safeguards a free and open internet while upholding human rights. She champions strategic litigation in courts to challenge constraints on freedom of expression, association and assembly. She coordinates advocacy campaigns to enforce these fundamental rights across West Africa, envisioning a thriving civic space for current and future generations in the regio
With over 12 years of legal practice, Mojirayo has committed the past eight years to defending the rights of journalists, primarily on a pro bono basis, before Nigerian courts and the West African regional ECOWAS Court. She is renowned for her pivotal role in prosecuting the landmark case of Amnesty International, Togo & 7 Others v. The Republic of Togo, addressing the internet shutdown; which earned the Judgment the 2022 Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Prize for a Significant Legal Ruling.
Mojirayo actively engages in litigation related to gender rights, sexual and gender-based violence, and gender discrimination. She represented Amnesty International Sierra Leone in advocating for the rights of pregnant schoolgirls in Sierra Leone in the W.A.V.E vs. Sierra Leone case at the ECOWAS Court.
Mojirayo is the Principal Partner of M.O.N. Legal, a law firm based in Abuja, Nigeria and the founder of the DiGiCiViC Initiative, a non-governmental organization. She is a fellow of the Internet Society Nigeria, and serves as a co-chair of the Legal and Digital Rights Working Group. 

Asrat Mulatu Beyene is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University. He is also an active member of two research centers at the same university: AI & Robotics, and High Performance Computing & Big Data Analytics Centers of Excellence. He loves teaching, mentoring, and researching. Additionally, he is a consultant for IT development projects and solutions for various industries and has completed international and national projects. He obtained his B.Sc and M.Sc in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Computer Engineering, and his Ph.D in Wireless Communication Systems from Addis Ababa University. His research interests include Wireless Communications, Distributed and Cloud Systems, Hardware-Software Co-Design, Open Source Software, and AI. He has published more than 25 research papers in international prestigious conferences, reputable journals, and book chapters. He is the current President of the Internet Society Ethiopian Chapter. 
Session Moderator

Mesenbet Assefa earned his LL.B from Bahir Dar University in 2006, graduating with distinction. He received his LLM from the University of Pretoria in 2008 and his PhD from the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2017. Mesenbet has extensive experience in technology and law, data privacy, freedom of expression and the media, international law, human rights law, and many other diverse areas of law. He is a member of both Lawyers for Human Rights and the Internet Society Ethiopia chapter. Mesenbet has served in numerous positions including as Multi Stakeholder Advisory Board for Internet Development in Ethiopia, Lead Drafter of the Computer Crime Proclamation and the Mass Media Proclamation. Previously, he has also served as Head of the School of Law at Addis Ababa University, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies at Addis Ababa University School of Law, and Director of Mekelle University Human Rights Center. Mesenbet has published in numerous international and local journals and presented his research findings at leading centers of excellence, including Yale School of Law, London School of Economics, University of Pretoria, and University of Seville. He was one of the few legal experts assigned to draft the media law and computer crime law. Mesenbet also has extensive experience in consulting for governmental and inter-governmental organizations, including the UN, IGAD, and various non-governmental organizations.