essay on human rights and digital space

Hub for Human Rights and Digital Technology

UNITED NATIONS

Human rights and digital technology, resource hub.

Welcome to the United Nations Hub for Human Rights and Digital Technology. As our world becomes ever-more digital, there is a greater need for our rights to be respected both online and offline. The UN has been considering how our valuable human rights protections apply in the digital space. You can find the full scope of key texts, including standards, analysis, and recommendations emerging from the United Nations human rights mechanisms, on this site.

"Together, as we seek to recover from the pandemic, we must learn to better curtail harmful use of digital technology and to better unleash its power as a democratizing force and an enabler."

UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

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Use the search bar below to find materials on specific issues. You may also explore different themes by clicking on the boxes below. New materials will be added regularly.

SDGs and Digital Divide

Human Rights Council

Human rights implications of COVID-19 pandemic on young people

Report presented at the 51st session of HRC, which examines in detail ways to mitigate the impact of the global pandemic on the human rights of young people, including the systemic barriers they face in regards to education, employment, social security, health and participation.

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance; Discrimination and Equality; SDGs and Digital Divide

Working Group

Girls' and young women's activism

Report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls

Privacy, Data and Surveillance; Discrimination and Equality; SDGs and Digital Divide

Special Rapporteurs

Impact of the digitalization of education on the right to education

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, Koumbou Boly Barry, in which she addresses the risks and opportunities of the digitalization of education and their impact on the right to education.

Civic Space and Content Governance; Discrimination and Equality; SDGs and Digital Divide

Impact of the COVID-10 pandemic on the realization of the equal enjoyment of the right to education by every girl

Report presented at the 50th session of Human Rights Council

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance

Safety of Journalists

Report presented at the 49th session of the Human Rights Council that examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken by States regarding the safety and work of journalists and media workers, and describes trends and good practices, including from a gender perspective.

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance; SDGs and Digital Divide,

General Assembly

Sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography and other child sexual abuse material, Mama Fatima Singhateh

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance, Security -Counter-Terrorism; Business and Private Sector

Protection of human rights in the context of peaceful protests during crisis situations

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Clément Nyaletsossi Voule

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance; Discrimination and Equality; SDGs and Digital Divide; Business and Private Sector; Security - Counter-Terrorism

Internet shutdowns: trends, causes, legal implications and impacts on a range of human rights

Report presented at the 50th session of HRC that provides an overview of trends in Internet shutdowns. It contains an analysis of their causes and the legal implications and the impact on human rights thereof, the roles of companies, the existing efforts to promote Internet connectivity and provide development aid, and the relevance of such efforts for detecting, preventing and responding to shutdowns, as well as a set of recommended measures for ending shutdowns and minimizing their impact.

Civic Space and Content Governance; Privacy, Data and Surveillance; Security - Counter-Terrorism; Business and Private Sector

Reinforcing media freedom and the safety of journalists in the digital age

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan

The Human Rights and Digital Technology Hub was developed as part of the UN Secretary-General's Call to Action for Human Rights