{"id":9970,"date":"2025-01-29T14:02:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T14:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/?page_id=9970"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:49:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T10:49:12","slug":"advocacy-digitalise-youth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/advocacy-digitalise-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Through the Digitalise Youth project, the Youth Democracy Cohort aims to <strong>contribute to<\/strong> <strong>digital civic engagement, protect online rights <\/strong>and address the challenges young people face in<strong> accessing digital spaces.<\/strong> By empowering youth activists and human rights defenders, the project <strong>advocates for digital rights at local, regional, and international levels<\/strong>. Specifically, it targets bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Commission on Human and Peoples&rsquo; Rights to push for the ratification of the African Union Convention on <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Protection of systems and data from digital threats through secure practices.&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/glossary\/cybersecurity\/\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Cybersecurity<\/a> and Personal <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:separator {&amp;quot;className&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;is-style-wide&amp;quot;} --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;hr class=&amp;quot;wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide&amp;quot;\/&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:separator --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br \/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:columns --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;wp-block-columns&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:column --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;wp-block-column&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:heading --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;h2 class=&amp;quot;wp-block-heading&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Definition:&amp;lt;\/strong&amp;gt; &amp;lt;\/h2&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:heading --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br \/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Safeguarding personal data through laws and secure practices.&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;\/div&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:column --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br \/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:column --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;div class=&amp;quot;wp-block-column&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:heading --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;h2 class=&amp;quot;wp-block-heading&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Did you know?&amp;lt;\/strong&amp;gt; &amp;lt;\/h2&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:heading --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br \/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In 2024, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) led to about &euro;2.1 billion in fines across the EU for violations of data protection rules.&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br \/&amp;gt;&amp;lt;!-- wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Source:&amp;lt;\/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;em&amp;gt; &amp;lt;\/em&amp;gt;Usercentrics: Data Privacy&amp;lt;\/p&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:paragraph --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;\/div&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:column --&amp;gt;&amp;lt;\/div&amp;gt;\n&amp;lt;!-- \/wp:columns --&amp;gt;&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/glossary\/data-protection\/\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>Data Protection<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project will <strong>support content creators<\/strong> and develop a <strong>digital rights toolkit for advocacy campaigns<\/strong>. Through existing platforms such as the Youth Democracy Cohort and Open Government Partnership, Digitalise Youth will engage with policy and tech stakeholders to <strong>strengthen youth-led digital rights advocacy<\/strong> and <strong>contribute to a more inclusive digital landscape in Africa.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/digital-rights-supported-organisations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.png\" alt=\"Supported organisations\" class=\"wp-image-17314\" style=\"width:372px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1.png 1080w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1-768x768.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-light-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/digital-rights-supported-organisations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Discover them<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital Democracy Agenda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/recommendations-digital-rights\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DY-Policy-Recommendations-Website-Assets.gif\" alt=\"Policy Recommendations Banner EN\" class=\"wp-image-20876\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:23px\">Enabling youth participation in the digital age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognising the importance of empowering youth and promoting digital rights to strengthen democracy in the digital age, Digitalise Youth advances a Digital Democracy Agenda focused on<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3.png\" alt=\"Digital access for all\" class=\"wp-image-16140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3.png 1595w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-3-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Open Digital Spaces<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><br>Facilitating and promoting an inclusive and safe digital space, by protecting it against cyber-attacks and discouraging government-imposed internet shutdowns, with a special consideration for marginalised groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8.png\" alt=\"access to information\" class=\"wp-image-16142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8.png 1595w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-8-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Access to Information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><br>Strengthening policies to uphold the right to access information online, transparency and integration into democratic governance through the targeting of accessibility and <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;Freely available data for public use, often from governments.&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/glossary\/open-data\/\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>open data<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1.png\" alt=\"fake news\" class=\"wp-image-16144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1.png 1595w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-1-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size\">Tackling disinformation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Supporting the development and implementation of&nbsp; targeted measures to counter <a class=\"glossaryLink\"  aria-describedby=\"tt\"  data-cmtooltip=\"&lt;div class=glossaryItemBody&gt;False information deliberately created and shared to deceive people, often with malicious intent.&lt;\/div&gt;\"  href=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/glossary\/disinformation\/\"  data-mobile-support=\"0\"  data-gt-translate-attributes='[{\"attribute\":\"data-cmtooltip\", \"format\":\"html\"}]' tabindex='0' role='link'>disinformation<\/a> campaigns and strengthen digital resilience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2.png\" alt=\"Civic innovation for improved public participation\" class=\"wp-image-16146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2.png 1595w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-2-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Civic Innovation for Improved Public Participation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><br>Advocating for an enabling environment that welcomes digital innovation from civil society that is aimed at demystifying governance issues and expanding public participation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1595\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4.png\" alt=\"Ethical and inclusive AI governance\" class=\"wp-image-16148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4.png 1595w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4-322x322.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4-161x161.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DDI-YDCSKETCHES-NEW-4-1536x1536.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1595px) 100vw, 1595px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\">Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><br>Advocating for policies that promote the responsible and transparent use of AI and big data to enhance civic engagement, protect human rights, and address societal challenges while ensuring these technologies do not reinforce biases or undermine democratic processes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Illustrations by Okeno Adem for the <a href=\"https:\/\/digitaldemocracyinitiative.net\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Digital Democracy Initiative<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:42px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:56px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-scaled.png\" alt=\"Powered by Digital Democracy Initiative\" class=\"wp-image-16161\" style=\"width:660px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-scaled.png 2560w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-322x30.png 322w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-161x15.png 161w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-768x71.png 768w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-1536x142.png 1536w, https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/DY-Logo-banners-2-1-2048x189.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Through the Digitalise Youth project, the Youth Democracy Cohort aims to contribute to digital civic engagement, protect online rights and address the challenges young people face in accessing digital spaces. By empowering youth activists and human rights defenders, the project advocates for digital rights at local, regional, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9970","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9970"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20879,"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9970\/revisions\/20879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youthdemocracycohort.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}