Sada Organization Releases Policy Paper on Digital Violations against Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in Yemen

The National Organization of Yemeni Reporters, "Sada," has launched a scientific policy paper entitled "Digital Violations against Journalists, Human Rights Defenders, and Independent Media in Yemen." The launch took place during a virtual event attended by journalists, human rights activists, and representatives of local and international organizations.

The release of this paper comes as part of the Digital Rights Initiative implemented in partnership with Cyrilla. It includes two policy papers on digital rights and national legislation, as well as a practical workshop with stakeholders in the temporary capital, Aden.

The policy paper reveals the digital and technological risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders amidst the ongoing war, division, and conflict. The study ranked electronic breaches as the top risk, according to responses from journalists and human rights activists from various Yemeni provinces. Mobile phone hacking, data extraction, phone tapping, and surveillance of location through mobile devices were identified as the most significant technological risks.

The study also indicated that journalists and human rights activists are subjected to various forms of digital abuses and threats, such as blackmail, incitement, defamation, harassment, intimidation, character assassination, and identity theft.

The policy paper includes several proposals and recommendations directed at various parties, including government entities, media organizations, and specialized organizations. These recommendations aim to support media freedom and human rights, mitigate digital violations against journalists and human rights defenders, establish and enforce laws that protect them from risks and digital violations they face, and support and enhance programs and projects for the protection of journalists and human rights defenders in Yemen, particularly in the field of digital safety. It also calls for the integration of human rights issues, media education, and information literacy into school and university curricula.

Regarding media organizations and institutions, the policy paper recommends the establishment of dedicated risk management departments in independent media institutions to raise awareness among journalists and human rights defenders about safe journalistic practices during conflicts, mitigate risks, and provide training and capacity building for journalists and human rights activists in the field of digital journalism and artificial intelligence to protect themselves, enhance their capabilities, and promote a culture of society. It also emphasizes the need to train journalists and human rights defenders on methods and techniques for verifying information and sources.

It is worth mentioning that the National Organization of Yemeni Reporters, "Sada," is a Yemeni non-governmental, nonprofit organization working in the fields of media development and the protection of journalistic and media rights and freedoms. Recently, it has launched several projects, including the #Ensure project, which aims to empower journalists and media institutions in Yemen by providing them with quick access to specialized and comprehensive legal assistance services, enhancing their protection, safety, and resilience against threats, and promoting press freedom and freedom of expression".