The federal Office of Science and Technology Policy has issued guidance on making federally supported research and publications available to all without embargo or cost. This announcement about open access has the potential to remove information barriers that have long held back social and scientific progress. However, issues regarding access to information for persons with disabilities must be considered as this policy takes shape. For example, a researcher who has a visual disability is disadvantaged when the data and peer-reviewed publications are not available in an accessible format.
Scientific information is not limited to downloading journals and databases. Accessing research data can mean using online software, interactive websites or maps, and attending webinars or conferences. When researchers, policymakers, advocates, etc who have disabilities are not able to access information fully, their research knowledge, participation, and inclusion are limited.
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Fostering freedom of expression and enhancing synergies through the UPR Process
During the opening of the High-level discussion co-hosted by the Office of the President of the Human Rights Council, Ms Nada Al-Nashif, Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights said, ‘we have the opportunity today, once again, to collectively underline that freedom of expression is essential for any society to realise its people’s fullest potential and aspirations. It is a necessary condition for the realization of the principles of transparency and accountability that are, in turn, the key to the promotion and protection of human rights. Freedom of expression is also the basis for the full enjoyment of a wide range of other rights, such as the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, the freedom of peaceful assembly, and the right to vote.
Yet, freedom of expression nowadays faces increasing limitations, both legal and practical, both in countries with restricted civic space as well as in those with longer histories of active public debate and exchange. Some of these limitations involve generalised assertions of what may be a legitimate objective — typically national security or public order — but without the barest demonstration of legality, necessity or proportionality, as required by international human rights standards’.
The government of Oman calls for digital access for all
In promulgating the national digital access policy, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MoTCIT) issued an official communication to all the government departments and public and private firms to ensure that people with disabilities and the elderly get fair living opportunities and have free access to services made available via digital platforms.
In the circular, the ministry emphasized that persons with disabilities and the elderly should have easy access to transfer digital services propagated on electronic sites, applications, and mobile phones.
The public and private establishments concerned are also required to upgrade their websites on par with global digital access criteria.
The National Digital Access Policy in the Sultanate of Oman offers electronic access to all segments and individuals of society to enable them to benefit from all opportunities on ICT platforms.
Church makes online content accessible on their platform
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has updated its online content and has made it accessible to those who have disabilities. The content has also been posted on the Gospel Library app in the Life Help section, including materials for individuals, parents, and caregivers of those with disabilities.
All the Church materials including the scriptures are available in the following accessible formats: American Sign Language, Audio, Closed Captions, DAISY format, Materials on talking book cartridges, Victor Reader Stream Files, and Web Braille.
Rwanda: First digital census for Persons with disability
Rwanda is set to have its first digital census for persons with disability. The traditional data collection with pen and paper has proven futile to have a national database of disabilities, their causes, and the challenges that those with disabilities face.
After the exercise, the government is set to roll out a Disability Management Information System (DMIS), which will also facilitate researchers in the disability sector.
According to the National Council of Persons with Disability, data on disabilities in Rwanda is collected occasionally, however, there is a gap in nationwide reliable, disaggregated data, which makes it difficult for evidence-based planning and advocacy of inclusive policies.
The census will cost $1 million (over Rwf1 billion), and 60 percent of it will be spent on data collection.
Two monks sentenced to jail in Tibet for exercising their right to freedom of expression
Two monks from Sershul County in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture had been detained incommunicado for almost two years and sentenced on an unknown date in June this year. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) on Monday condemned the sentencing of Tenzin Dhargay and Rigtse to prison for merely exercising the right to freedom of expression, a right protected in the Chinese constitution as well as in major international human rights instruments that the Beijing government is party to.
The two were sentenced by the Sershu l County People’s Court, Dhargay, three years and six months, and Rigtse, three years in prison. ‘So far, Chinese authorities have handled both the cases with extreme secrecy and family members have not been provided with the details of the cases’ said the TCHRD.
To say there is no freedom of expression in India is propaganda
While launching the News18 TV channel on the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir said ‘There are 392 news channels in the country, which is more than even the United States of America which has close to 100 channels. This speaks volume of the freedom of the media and true nature of democracy in India, but we must all also remember that when the Constitution of India was being prepared, all Indians were given the right of freedom of expression under 19 (1), but 19 (2) also put in some restrictions which I believe are not just restrictions, but duties’. He further noted that ‘There is a need to mind the fine line between freedom of expression, and the expression that hurts the nation. The Constitution clearly mentions the Rights of every individual, but it also mentions our duties. The problem arises when people only talk about their rights and forget their duties’, said Manoj.
Finland parliament’s website hit by DDoS launched by Russian hackers
Yesterday, the external websites of the Finnish parliament were inaccessible for a couple of hours due to a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack launched by pro-Russian hackers. They explained the reason for this attack as a response to Finland’s aspiration towards joining NATO. This hacker group called NoName057(16) took the responsibility for the attack on their Telegram channel.
In the post, the hackers said that ‘We decided to pay a ‘friendly’ visit to neighboring Finland, whose authorities are so eager to join NATO.’ The DDoS attack happened on the same day US president Joe Biden signed ratification documents regarding Washington’s support for Finland and Sweden joining NATO.
The Finnish parliament replied to this event stating that they will take steps to limit the attack alongside with service providers and the Cyber security Center.
OEWG 2021-2025 agrees on consensus Annual Progress Report at its third substantive session
The third substantive session of the OEWG 2021-2025 was held from 25-29 July 2022, in person in New York (with a webcast through UN WebTV). Ahead of the session, an informal consultative meeting with interested stakeholders was held on 21 July 2022. The session’s agenda included two rounds of discussions on the Zero-Draft of the annual progress report prepared by the Chair, as well as a dedicated stakeholder session on capacity building and implementation of the concrete, action-oriented proposals contained in the draft report. In the end, the delegations have agreed by consensus on the Annual Progress Report (A/77/275), which was a result of compromise and shall serve as a roadmap for further negotiations.
Intensification of cyberwar between Iran and Israel
Three of Iran’s state-owned biggest steel companies stopped working after facing cyberattacks in late June. These biggest steel companies were attacked by a hacking group who admitted it on social media as a response to ‘the aggression of the Islamic Republic.’
After that, Israel’s defense secretary ordered an investigation into the leaked video which showed the damage to the steel plants. This incident was soon followed by the Israeli Security Agency’s statement (Shin Bet) that a May cyber operation by Iran was set to be out of the cyber domain. With these two incidents, it is clear that the cyber conflict between these two countries has become more public in the previous 2 years.
Israel and Iran shifted to a public forum and their objective has changed from defense targets to violating critical infrastructure and civilian lives. With larger public exposure, the greater the risks of extending beyond cyberspace with the influence of other areas of this conflict as well.