At DiPES workshop in Yaounde: Paradigm Initiative, Civic Watch rally stakeholders to address digital rights gaps.

This was in a one-day workshop the organisation organised on Monday, June 8, in Yaounde, in collaboration civil society organisation, Civic Watch Cameroon, as a local partner and host. 

The workshop is part of Paradigm Initiative's Digital Policy Engagement Series, DiPES, a flagship programme reviewing how existing national laws align with international human rights standards in the digital age. 

Participants included public policymakers, regulators, members of the Bar Council, representatives from sectoral ministries, civil society actors, media practitioners and magistrates.

Organisers said the workshop seeks to promote dialogue among stakeholders, identify legal and policy gaps, encourage rights-respecting digital governance and formulate recommendations for lawmakers and public institutions.

Under review was Cameroon’s digital governance law including that on Electronic Communications of 2010 as amended in 2015, and the Law on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime of 2010, subsequently revised in 2019. 

Speaking at the event, Paradigm Initiative’s Programmes Officer for Francophone Africa, Moussa Wally Sene, said the workshop was designed to assess whether cybersecurity, cybercrime and telecommunications laws comply with African and international standards on human rights in the digital age.

According to Moussa, concerns had emerged across several African countries where laws are diverted from their original purpose and used against critical voices, including activists, journalists and political opponents.

“Today, all these prosecutions and restrictions imposed on certain journalists and activists are justified by a law,” Moussa said.

He also raised the post-presidential election internet disruption of October 2025, as a violation of citizens' rights, and questioned whether the existing legal framework provided citizens any mechanism to contest such action or seek redress.

“The objective is to formulate recommendations for lawmakers so that the blind spots and gaps identified in these laws can be addressed and reforms adopted to better protect the rights of citizens,” Moussa underscored.

He added that Paradigm Initiative remains open to partnerships with institutions willing to identify available remedies for digital rights violations, seeking reparation, and working through legislative reform to prevent future breaches.

Call for broader collaboration

On her part, Senior Manager for Partnerships and Engagements at Paradigm Initiative, Thobekile Matimbe, stressed that collaboration among governments, civil society groups, the media and judicial actors would be essential in addressing shortcomings identified in digital governance frameworks.

“Some measures that are intended to protect society can end up restricting rights such as freedom of expression. We continue to see provisions that criminalise speech in ways that do not align with international standards,” Matimbe said.

She underscored the need for constructive engagement with government actors to understand their concerns while also identifying better ways to address issues such as misinformation and disinformation.

Matimbe added that building public awareness and promoting responsible use of online platforms are part of the solution. She also stressed the economic implications of internet shutdowns and restrictions on digital access.

“When internet access is disrupted, people lose opportunities to trade, conduct business and access information. Development can suffer when measures affecting connectivity are implemented without considering their broader impact,” Matimbe explained.

Enter Civic Watch Founder

Cueing in, the Founder/President of Civic Watch, Dr Ngala Desmond Ngala, said DiPES differs from previous Paradigm Initiative engagements held in the country, because it goes beyond reviewing laws.

Dr Ngala said DiPES examines how well, existing laws are anchored in international agreements ratified by government or those still to ratified. 

He explained that discussions also examined whether existing legal instruments were properly anchored in regional frameworks such as the Malabo Convention and whether the rights contained in those instruments were being effectively implemented.

“Many countries adopt laws they consider good for their citizens, but those commitments are not always fully reflected in national legislation. We want to examine how well Cameroon’s legal framework is anchored in international commitments and whether those rights are respected in practice,” Dr Ngala said.

Responding to questions on gaps identified in existing legislation, Dr Ngala cited concerns over vague legal terminology, historical practices surrounding data retention and the use of personal information beyond its original purpose. 

He argued that some provisions could create varying interpretations and potentially conflict with international standards to which Cameroon is a signatory.

“These are some of the gaps we have identified, and sometimes these laws conflict with the very international bodies of which the country is a signatory. We hope that at the end of the day, the discussion will not remain at a policy level. It will go to an implementation level,” Dr Ngala stated.

Zoom on way forward 

Dr Ngala said background work to engage lawmakers is already underway. He also mentioned plans to ensure law enforcement officers and members of the judiciary are better trained on digital rights law as has been done countries such as Nigeria.

The training, he said, is for the concerned to abreast themselves with issues such as Artificial Intelligence, AI, which did exist when they were undergoing studies. 

“Digital rights were not what they are today. We are going to ensure we do more engagement,” Dr Ngala said, noting that the discussions are timely, coming om the eve of the June Parliamentary session which might be used to engage lawmakers on issues affecting digital rights.

“Civil society must engage MPs and Senators and remind them of violations and legal concerns so that meaningful change can take place,” he concluded.

According to Dr Ngala, public authorities have admitted that there is a problem hence collaboration will be easier.

Both organisations will today, June, 9, host the Digital Rights Academy to raise awareness and increase knowledge of stakeholders to foster innovation-friendly and inclusive human rights-respecting legislation in the country. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3812 of Tuesday June 09, 2026