Joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review 2018 Cycle – Chad - Internet Sans Frontières

This is a joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review on its 2018 Cycle for Chad, by Internet Sans Frontières, Access Now, and Utopie Nord-Sud. The organizations submitting this report consider that Chad can improve its human rights record and treatment of digital rights in several areas and make recommendations to the government of Chad accordingly.

Download UPR CHAD

About Internet Sans Frontières (Internet Without Borders)

Internet Sans Frontières is a non-governmental organization, and a network of organizations, with the non-profit status under French law. The organization promotes and defends rights and freedoms in the digital space, including freedom of expression and the right to privacy, and an open web accessible to all, without discrimination. Internet Sans Frontières’ expertise on the Internet and Human Rights in West and Central Africa is internationally recognized.

About Access Now

Access Now is an international organization that works to defend and extend digital rights of users globally. Through representation in 10 countries around the world, including engagement with stakeholders and policymakers in Cameroon, Access Now provides thought leadership and policy recommendations to the public and private sectors to ensure the internet has continued openness and the protection of fundamental rights. We engage with an action-focused global community, and our Technology Arm operates a 24/7 digital security helpline that provides real-time direct technical assistance to users around the world.

Access Now advocates an approach to digital security that promotes good security policies that protect user rights, including privacy and freedom of expression. Access Now has worked extensively to draw attention to digital rights in Cameroon, including commenting on the January 2017 internet shutdown.

About Utopie Nord-Sud

The Utopie Nord-Sud Association has been working since 2009 to support communication and information on issues related to the promotion of peace in Chad. Utopie Nord-Sud supports, in all its actions, the promotion of human rights, including social, cultural and economic rights. It affirms that there can be no development without peace. It supports actions for the resolution of armed conflicts through dialogue. It reflects on issues of conflict resolution or in marginal urban areas with high levels of violence. It supports local actions that address the causes of violence (food security, exclusion, human rights defenders, promotion of the rights of disadvantaged groups). It privilege partners who combine local actions with civil initiatives for peace promotion accompanies popular participation in human rights protests and provides support for conflict management within farmers’ organizations by trying to contribute to decentralization.

The Utopie Nord-Sud Association believes that this civil dialogue action that makes existing solidarity links visible reinforces solidarity within communities and translates the demand for economic rights (fair producer price), political rights (participatory decision-making) and social rights (family rights) in citizen mobilization. Women’s movements that have mobilized for this purpose in silence for years against the right of the family, the land code that places them at the bottom of the social scale find meaning to their claim. The Utopie Nord-Sud Association’s goal is to support its partners in the field and promote a better North-South dialogue by producing tools for reflection and supporting local initiatives that go in the same direction.