In November 2024, HER Internet took part in the African School on Internet Governance (#AfriSIG2024), held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organized by Association for Progressive Communications (APC). Mulungi Sanyu, Communications and Advocacy Lead at HER Internet, joined over 16 African countries’ participants including civil society, technical experts, government representatives, academia, the media, the private sector,
Read More
OUR STORY
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
HER Internet is a feminist organization established in 2018 to advocate for digital rights and internet equalities of communities of structurally silenced womxn in Uganda. HER Internet was set up to promote and protect the rights to freedom of expression, privacy, data protection and internet access of structurally silenced womxn. In Uganda and globally, womxn are facing increased online harassment, blackmail and extortion. In addition, the non-consensual sharing of private information and other forms of cyber-crime, surveillance and censorship unduly target structurally silenced womxn because of their unique circumstances- including; their sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and/or choice of work, living conditions and geographical areas.
Embedded within Uganda’s social fabric are structural inequalities rooted in patriarchy, class and geographical differences, whether it is the predominance of womxn suffering from online trolling, gendered censorship of bodies, male dominance in the tech industry, or gendered stereotypical representations reproduced in technologies like Amazon’s Alexa. These inequalities are exacerbated by the high levels of cyber-crime and increased efforts of both state and non–state actors’ surveillance and direct censorship of womxn both at individual and organizational levels. This manifests in the shrinking of spaces; even within the civil society itself, creating an environment rife with self– censorship, policing of voice and body which makes it hard to express oneself and inadvertently limits others from accessing certain information. These practices are demeaning our efforts in organizing, expression and movement building, and as a result, impeding our realization of agency, awareness and demand for social justice at the community and national levels.
In this vein, HER Internet’s mission is to close the knowledge gap on online and offline security for structurally silenced womxn. We plan to achieve this through the dissemination of information on access to and utilization of ICTs and other tools, support for data protection, research and documentation on access to and use of the internet as well as supporting discussions around engaging more structurally silenced womxn on the internet.
HER Internet’s work is rooted in the clear purpose of challenging the oppressive system that is patriarchy, which is pervasive in general online spaces, spaces for womxn, as well as our subconscious actions on how we use the internet and other ICTs. HER Internet embodies the Feminist Principles of the Internet developed by various activists and feminist techies from all over the globe. The principles cover themes of access, movements and public participation, economy, expression and agency. They state that a feminist internet is one where womxn and queer people have affordable and equal access and are able to create, design and use technologies to challenge sexism and discrimination. It is one where feminists’ use of the internet is linked to resistance in other spaces and where the internet allows us to connect and demand accountability.
HER Internet’s interventions target communities of structurally silenced womxn. The goal is to build fearlessly expressive womxn who are actively engaged in bringing about social transformation online and offline.
OUR VISION
An equal and just Internet for all womxn restoring their agency as their own agents of social change.
OUR MISSION
Equipping womxn with digital literacy and cyber security information and skills for increased and safer online engagement.
OUR LATEST WORK
Good day everyone,
It is with immense pride and gratitude that I speak on behalf of HER Internet as we celebrate six remarkable years of impact. Six years of resilience, learning, and unwavering commitment to supporting womxn in navigating the digital world with confidence, security, and freedom.
When we started this journey, we knew that the online
Read More
In a recent episode of #WomenSpeaking on Civic Space Tv, a panel hosted by Danita Turiho featuring inspiring women leaders including our Executive Director at HER Internet, Sandra Kwikiriza, delved into pressing issues of the digital gender divide and it’s impacts on womxn, this conversation brought to light the realities womxn face in digital spaces.
The
Read More
The 11th Annual Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa (FIFAfrica2024), co-hosted by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) and AfricTivistes, took place from September 25-27 in Dakar, Senegal. This marked the first time the flagship event was held in Francophone Africa, emphasizing the region’s growing role in shaping Africa’s
Read More
On September 11–12, 2024, HER Internet was honored to attend the East Africa Internet Governance Forum (EAIGF), convened under the theme “Building Our Multi-Stakeholder Digital Future for East Africa.” The forum hosted in Uganda, brought together a dynamic mix of policymakers, civil society organizations, tech innovators, academics, media and private sector leaders.
This year’s #EAIGF was
Read More
On August 8th, 2024, we had the privilege of attending the National Youth Symposium organized by the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda) at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. The event under the theme; Demystifying Technology Facilitated Gender-Based violence brought together a diverse group of young people, civil society organizations, lawmakers, experts, and
Read More
Welcome to the 7th Edition of our Biannual Newsletter! We are excited to share the significant updates, milestones and developments from the first half of the year with you, from the official launch of the “RIPPLES” comic book in commemoration of the International Women’s Day to the release of our latest research report on Navigating
Read More
In an era dominated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms shaping our digital experiences, the need for comprehensive online safety and security training has never been more urgent. As we embrace the benefits of interconnected technologies, we also encounter heightened risks and vulnerabilities, particularly for structurally silenced communities like LBQ womxn. Recognizing this pressing need,
Read More
In a digitally interconnected world, social media algorithms play a pivotal role in shaping our online experiences, from the content we see to the communities we engage with. Understanding and navigating these algorithms has become essential to foster visibility, representation, ally-ship, advocacy, organizing and community building in this information era. While we celebrate these opportunities
Read More
Executive Summary.
At a time when social media has become the backbone of a large part of the digital society, it is important to understand the glue that holds it together. While the different social media platforms offer a range of spaces for networking, research, knowledge generation, kinship, and entertainment, each also offers a distinct value
Read More
LIKE OUR WORK?
SUPPORT US IN OUR INTERVENTIONS
Thank you for showing interest in HER Internet’s programs and initiatives. Get in touch with us today so that we can collaborate!