LGBTIQ+ Activism in a Digital Age: Security Capacity Building

The internet has facilitated connection across previously inaccessible geographic distances. The potential power of online activity for global LGBTIQ movements is far reaching; particularly for LGBTIQ youth, many of whom are considered digital natives. The significance of the internet for LGBTIQ Youth cannot be
understated. The UN Sustainable Development Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation directly speaks to the importance of equity and safety in engaging with technology. The 2030 Agenda recognizes the need to develop knowledge societies where everyone has opportunities to learn and engage with others, which starkly highlights the need for access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Conversely, the scope of potential harm posed by engaging with online spaces have very real physical, mental, and emotional impacts. The importance of access to the Internet for LGBTIQ youth and their peers poses a challenge to educators, legislators, and key stakeholders in improving the protections of LGBTIQ youth globally. It is also a challenge for human rights defenders and LGBTIQ community organisations, who must provide increased in-person support while developing and enhancing online resources for these young people.

In response to this opportunity and in acknowledgement of this risk, the Global Queer Youth Network in partnership with ILGA World, the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is facilitating an ongoing series of capacity building sessions and the creation of resources which directly respond to the present needs of LGBTIQ youth activists engaging in online activity.

Check out the information below to see how our capacity building has been operating, you can also download resources and training information as it is published.

Introduction

Overview of three phases:

Participants have been invited to complete a self-assessment on their interest areas, current level of confidence, and generally how they engage with technology and digital spaces. This content forms the curriculum for the next three phases of capacity building:

The first session is a primary introduction to core principles of digital security and a practical introduction to digitally secure activist practices.
The second session will provide slightly more in-depth knowledge about digital activism including training on tools which utilise online spaces as potential research spaces, this phase will also invite participants to complete an externally certified digital security training.
The third and final phase of this training will cover higher-level concepts in three key areas: digital freedom (policy, global movements, data protection), using the internet as a tool (data activist concepts, recording violations to freedom, connecting and organising online securely), and high-level security practices (anonymous browsing, maintaining secure data storage)

Each training tier includes both practical training elements and an informal round-table discussion with a variety of industry experts.

Session 1:

On September 24th we held our live training session for the first phase of this program. Here you can find the slides from this training session and additional notes from the presentation.

Digital Security Session 1

Notes on presentation.pdf