Digital Trade in Africa: Implications for Inclusion and Human Rights
Digital globalization of which trade is both a component and facilitator can have serious ramifications for human rights. African countries will need to explore and develop alternative industrialization routes, through building the relevant skills sets and capacities to actively participate in and benefit from the digital transformation.
The way new digital technologies interact with the global economy in turn poses new opportunities and challenges for inclusive development. The response must be an updating of policymakers’ toolkits to face the new opportunities and challenges of digital trade, and ensure inclusive outcomes that progress human rights.
The response must be an updating of policymakers’ toolkits to maintain human rights. African countries will need to explore and develop alternative industrialization routes, through building the relevant skills sets and capacities to actively participate in and benefit from the digital transformation. The emergence of new technology systems, platforms, and ideas creates an opportunity for human rights to be a guiding framework for digital technology and development in Africa.
Following the launch of the OHCHR-ECA-FES publication, this session discussed how moving into the digital trade space offers human rights practitioners a new platform to apply past successes and innovate future safeguards. The emergence of new technology systems, platforms, and ideas creates an opportunity for human rights to be a guiding framework for digital technology and development in Africa.
Speakers:
- H.E. Ms. Xolelwa Mlumbi-Peter,
Ambassador & Permanent Representative to the WTO, South Africa - Mr. David Luke, Coordinator of the African
Trade Policy Centre, ECA - Mr. Jonathan Andrew, Research Fellow,
Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights - Ms. Nwanneakolam Vwede‐Obahor,
Regional Representative East Africa, OHCHR
Moderator:
- Mr Hajo Lanz, Director, FES Geneva office
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Geneva Office
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