NHRI Digital Rights Alliance

Background

In 2021, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated the Tech for Democracy Initiative that brings together business, civil society, academia and governmental actors to further human rights considerations in the development and use of technology. As part of this Initiative, DIHR launched an informal network of NHRIs called the NHRI Digital Rights Alliance (The Alliance).

The role of the Alliance in promoting and protecting digital rights

With the participation of representatives from NHRIs from around the globe, the Alliance has established a common goal to build the capacity of its members to fulfil their mandates in the digital sphere. The network is a peer-learning space for members to exchange experiences, challenges, and opportunities within the field of digital rights.

Besides regular meetings to exchange experiences in the field, the Alliance goals are:

• Awareness-raising: discussions of key topics which correlate to the impact of technology in human rights practice
• Capacity-building: peer-learning events in the format of online and offline capacity building workshop and events
• Multiple stakeholder engagement in the field of human rights and technology at national, regional, and international level and joint NHRI submissions to international processes, such the UN Global Digital Compact.

Moreover, the Alliance is currently developing a web resource that will help its members to define their role in protecting and promoting human rights digitally in compliance with the Paris Principles. The tool will be launched in the beginning of April 2024.

NHRI members

The Danish Institute for Human Rights, in addition to itself being a member of the Alliance, coordinates and support the Alliance in close dialogue and collaboration with the other members which are, NHRIs from: Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Ghana, Haiti, Ireland, Kenya, Mongolia, Morocco, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Palestine, Peru, Portugal, Samoa, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Uganda, and Zambia.

Learn more about the Alliance or request to join it by sending an e-mail to Line Gamrath Rasmussen -  lira@humanrights.dk with the heading ‘NHRI Digital Rights Alliance’.

Joint NHRI submissions:

• Joint NHRI Input to the Global Digital Compact Consultation, April 2023
• Protecting Human Rights from Military Technologies - Submission to the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, Nov 2023