Paradigm Initiative has opened the registration portal for the sixth edition of the Internet Freedom Forum. The forum (#IFF2018) will take place from 24th – 26th April 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to the Director of Operations, Tope Ogundipe, “we are opening registration early in order to encourage more diverse participation and to also help with planning in order to deliver a better forum in 2018.’’
“In 2017, we had registration from 35 countries, mostly from Africa. Next year, we aim for even larger participation from Africa and the rest of the world. This is partly why we are ensuring that the Forum’s bilingual status continues to be strengthened, ” she concluded.
The Internet Freedom Forum (IFF) is an arena where tough topical global issues around Internet rights, especially in Africa, are discussed between civil society, technology companies, government, academia and other stakeholders. In the past, we have discussed issues around surveillance, data privacy, freedom of expression online, the Internet and democratic governance, constitutionalism and digital rights
amongst many other topics with participants drawn from multiple stakeholder groups including government, civil society and the private sector.
The Forum has a record of accomplishment of producing tangible, actionable outcomes. For example, the 2014 edition of the Forum produced a dynamic legislation, the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill, which is presently before the Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The registration portal -www.paradigmhq.org/iff- allows applications to host side-sessions, and those interested in facilitating side-sessions are encouraged to indicate it in their registration form. Registrants can also suggest speakers and panellists for the international forum in a bid to ensure the diversity of voices for the forum. prospective participants at the Forum can also request for travel.