The #RestoreDataRights movement comprises seven partners across Africa; Paradigm Initiative (Nigeria), Africa Digital Rights Hub (Ghana), Tom Moultrie (Professor of Demography, University of Cape Town) (South Africa), Media Rights Agenda (Nigeria), CIPESA (Uganda), Open Institute (Kenya) and Amnesty International (Kenya). It sprang from discussions on how data used as part of the COVID-19 response should be governed; with conclusions calling for a more transparent, inclusive, and accountable ways to obtain, use and dispose of personal data during and after the pandemic. The movement was united by the  desire to ensure that digital rights were treated as  fundamental human rights – including those exercised in cyberspace especially over personal and sensitive data. The goal was to agitate for these data rights to be  respected and upheld during, and after, the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

On 11th November 2020, we will be launching the #RestoreDataRights Declaration: A Movement for Transparent, Accountable and Inclusive COVID-19 Data Use in Africa (“the Declaration”) setting out how we believe data should be used as part of the COVID-19 response and in post-pandemic Africa. 

What we hope to achieve with the #RestoreDataRights Declaration

The Declaration is a Call to Action for citizens, civil society, governments and development partners to help ensure that human rights in cyberspace and over personal data are upheld during and after the pandemic. The Declaration hopes to connect and complement the existing data governance and digital rights initiatives that are already underway in Africa and help to promote their messages and advocacy, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a lens.

Our aim is for this Declaration to act as a common message for governments and development partners from civil society, philanthropy, academia and even citizens across Africa on how data used as part of the COVID-19 response should be governed and handled. 

Join The Movement

We call on African citizens, civil society organisations, development partners/funders, regional institutions  and governments to  sign or endorse the declaration here.

We would also like to invite you to join us as we launch the #RestoreDataRights event which will be held virtually using Zoom webinar.
Register here to attend the launch event.