On March 18, the United States released public guidance to help technology companies counter attacks targeting human rights defenders (HRDs) online. This guidance builds on joint recommendations released by the United States and European Union, which set out 10 voluntary actions online platforms can take to bolster support for defenders under threat. The United States developed this guidance in response to the rapid growth of online threats against HRDs around the world. Online platforms have enormous potential to leverage their resources and influence to reinforce respect for human rights and to protect those who risk their lives to defend these rights.
The United States will officially launch the U.S. Guidance for Platforms on Protecting Human Rights Defenders Online on March 29 at an event hosted by CSIS and U.S. Department of State, in partnership with Access Now and Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Lab. Participants will include representatives from civil society, think tanks, the European Union and other government partners, and private sector technology companies.
If you are attending in person, please join us for a light breakfast and networking reception at 9:00am ET. The main program will begin at 9:30am ET with keynote addresses delivered by a U.S. government official followed by a moderated panel discussion with Q&A.
This event is made possible by general support to CSIS.
Michelle Strucke, Director, Humanitarian Agenda and Human Rights Initiative, CSIS
Kelly Razzouk, National Security Council Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Democracy and Human Rights
Ambassador Robert Gilchrist, Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State
Moderator: Michelle Strucke, Director, Humanitarian Agenda and Human Rights Initiative, CSIS
Panelists
