Workshop on Digital Advocacy: Empowering Voices of Women and Youth

About the Project

South Asia is undergoing a significant digital transformation that is driving societal and economic growth. However, this rapid shift comes with challenges. The policies meant to regulate the space inadvertently result in violations of essential digital rights, such as free speech, privacy, and access to information. Particularly for women and youth, these policies often limit their opportunities for socio-economic and political empowerment, and disproportionately affect them.

As digital spaces increasingly shape democratic discourse and civic participation, it is vital to ensure that these spaces are inclusive and equitable. Engaging women and youth in shaping digital policies not only strengthens democratic values but also fosters accountability, innovation, and a rights-based approach to governance. Recognising this need, Internews in partnership with CUTS International and organisations from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka are implementing a project Protecting Online Rights of Changemakers (PORCH), which aims to empower women and youth to influence digital policymaking.

As part of this initiative, CUTS International is organising a series of free full day virtual capacity building workshops across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.  These workshops will engage diverse participants from the respective country, including representatives from women and youth-led civil society organisations (CSOs), university students, journalists, and content creators. The initiative seeks to build their capacity to advocate for digital rights and engage confidently with policymakers. These capacity-building workshops will serve as a platform for participants to gain:

• Skills to shape digital policy through engagement with policymakers.
• Hands-on learning on digital rights, emerging tech, and regulation.
• Networking opportunities with regional and global changemakers.
• Nuanced insights on the most pressing issues from leading practitioners.
• An e-certificate of completion.
• Opportunity to apply for Digital Fellowship programme

In India, the workshop will be organised on January 29 and January 30. Interested people from India can register for either of these dates as per their convenience.

For more information, please contact:

Bijaya Roy, [email protected], Krishaank Jugiani, [email protected]