S4 E11: #Tech4Rights: The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa: Lesotho

<p style="text-align:justify;">In conversation with Bokang Lekhunya- Khutlang and Ompha Tshamano </p> <p style="text-align:justify;">In 2022, <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/'>the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria</a> undertook a research and advocacy project that sought to assess the status of digital rights in Southern Africa. As part of the research component, a report titled <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/expression-information-and-digital-rights-unit-resources'>The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa.</a> The report came into being after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the digital gaps and inequalities in Southern Africa. </p> <p style="text-align:justify;">On this episode, <a href='https://africarightstalk.podbean.com/'>Africa Rights Talk</a> together with Ms. Bokang Lekhunya-Khutlang and Mr Ompha Tshamano, discusses the digital rights landscape in Southern Africa with a specific focus on the status of digital rights in Lesotho. The discussion was premised on the challenges that vulnerable communities, namely women, children and people living with disabilities face in realising digital rights in Lesotho. In line with the mandates that States ought to adopt as recommended in the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, the discussants reflected on the measures that have been adopted through the Ministry of Justice in Lesotho to ensure that human rights are protected online and offline. In this conversation, Ms Lekhunya-Khutlang acknowledged the impact that race, class and gender has on people realising digital rights in Lesotho and subsequently the challenges and stifled opportunities that people face when it comes to accessing digital services and technologies in Lesotho. In conclusion, Ms Lekhunya-Khutlang emphasised on the importance of individual and communal efforts in order to ensure a healthy digital life. </p> <p style="text-align:justify;">Ms. Bokang Lekhunya-Khutlang works as a Legal Officer in the Human Rights Unit under the M