08-08, 10:00–10:55 (Poland), Istanbul (10)
Language: English
The objective of the session is to raise awareness about the human rights risks associated with the volunteer work and contribution on Wiki projects and provide recommendations to maintain a safe and secure environment.
The session will contain a brief overview of what human rights entail with a focus on freedom of expression, privacy, right to access information. Human Rights Team will explore the specific human rights risks faced by Wikimedia volunteers, such as cyberbullying, doxxing, harassment, and arrest, etc.
We will present examples of our work, recommendations and resources on how to be safe.
In the ever-evolving digital age, the protection and promotion of human rights within online communities, especially those centred around volunteer contributions like Wikimedia projects, are of paramount importance. This session aims to shine a light on the specific human rights risks faced by volunteers engaging in these platforms. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of the intrinsic human rights involved and the threats that volunteers may encounter, including cyberbullying, doxxing, harassment, and even the risk of arrest.
Our objectives are twofold: firstly, to raise awareness among Wikimedia volunteers and the broader community about the potential human rights challenges that can arise from their invaluable work. Secondly, to present effective tools to safeguard themselves against these risks, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all contributors. We believe that an informed volunteer is an empowered volunteer, thus understanding these foundational principles is critical.
In the final part of our session, the focus will shift to actionable recommendations and resources. Drawing from best practices and advice, we will outline a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to enhance personal security, digital security, protect privacy, and promote a culture of respect and safety online.
We can only be safe and secure if we collaborate together. By addressing the human rights risks associated with contributing to Wikimedia projects, this session directly supports the creation of a safer, more secure collaborative environment. It emphasizes the importance of protecting the rights and well-being of volunteers, which is essential for fostering an open and inclusive community where individuals feel valued and protected. By bringing these discussions to the forefront, it encourages a collaborative approach to finding solutions that uphold human rights while enabling the free exchange of knowledge and ideas across Wikimedia movement.
What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?* –Everyone can participate in this session
How do you plan to deliver this session?* –Hybrid with some participants in Katowice and others dialing in remotely
What other themes or topics does your session fit into? Please choose from the list of tags below. –Collaboration, Capacity building
For the past 3 years, Sanda has been part of the Human Rights Team at the Wikimedia Foundation, currently serving as a Human Rights Specialist. The work focused on protecting community members and ensuring their safety.
Over 10 years of experience in the field of civil society and international organizations on human rights, human security and security sector governance. Researcher and coordinator of studies, author of articles on topics related to information security, identification of corruption risks, analysis of the security and defense sector, coordination of external assistance, drafting a methodology for assessing threats, risks and vulnerabilities towards the security of the state.