Zambia's government has cancelled the world's largest conference on human rights and technology, RightsCon 2026, just days before it was scheduled to begin, citing that the event did not align with "national values." The summit, which was to be held in Lusaka from 5 to 8 May, had originally been welcomed by Zambian authorities. However, Thabo Kawana, permanent secretary for the Ministry of Information and Media, stated last week that the conference would not proceed to allow time to ensure it aligns with Zambia's national values, policy priorities, and broader public interest considerations.
Background and Reactions
More than 2,600 activists, technologists, academics, and policymakers were expected to arrive in Lusaka over the weekend. The event aimed to address human rights issues in the digital age, including online hate, internet shutdowns, AI, surveillance, militarisation of tech, and disinformation, at a time when democratic, women's, and LGBTQ+ rights face intense assault.
Rights campaigners have condemned the decision as a blatant act of censorship and part of a broader pattern of suppressing legitimate debate. Zambian news reports suggest that pressure from China may have influenced the move, as several Taiwanese delegates were due to attend, and the conference venue was donated by China. The conference, now in its 14th year, was held in Taipei last year.
Local Voices
Linda Kasonde, a prominent Zambian lawyer and civil society activist who founded the LCK Freedom Foundation, expressed concern over the decision. "When the current administration came into power, they were a government of rule of law and democracy. What we are seeing is a slow degradation of rights – of freedom of expression and the right to assemble," she said. Kasonde linked the move to the forthcoming general election in August 2026, noting that the government has been steadily implementing laws that make it easier to win and entrench power post-election.
She added that the cancellation was a blow to Zambia's reputation. "This was the first time RightsCon was being held in southern Africa, and it was a showcase for our region. It is highly unfortunate that it was cancelled at the very last minute for an extremely disingenuous reason, especially as the government had been involved in the planning process, which took over a year. It really dents the image of our country."
Organiser's Statement
In a statement issued on Friday, RightsCon organiser Access Now, a New York-based organisation, said it had spent months liaising with government to ensure transparency and mutual understanding. "We see this unilateral decision, and the way it was taken, as evidence of the far reach of transnational repression targeting civil society, and effectively shrinking the spaces in which we operate. At a time when this sector is already under immense financial and political strain, what we and our community forcefully experienced is unprecedented and existential," it said.
Most delegates had already booked and paid for their travel. Karna Kone, from Côte d'Ivoire, who was due to join a panel on digital censorship, had spent months organising his visa. "Travelling from west Africa is very expensive and a lot of logistical work. It's a loss in terms of money and of energy," he said. Kone, who works for the ODAS Centre, a coalition of reproductive health organisations, added that the cancellation was also a loss of opportunity. "Security was the reason we were going. Our members face online harassment and physical threats because of their focus on strengthening access to safe abortion. RightsCon was one of very few global spaces we could connect and share our work. Now this conversation has been silenced."
Broader Implications
Chioma Agwuegbo, director of TechHer, a Nigerian organisation mentoring girls in technology, was also due to speak. She said RightsCon was a rare opportunity for organisations to come up with solutions to pressing challenges. "At a time when civic space across the continent is increasingly shrinking, this incident reflects a troubling pattern where compliance mechanisms are weaponised to restrict convening, dialogue, and dissent. These constraints silence voices and weaken ecosystems working to protect fundamental human rights, including the safety and dignity of women and girls online."
A significant number of speakers were lined up to address issues around the online censorship of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR). Martha Dimitratou, director of Repro Uncensored, which has conducted research showing how tech companies regularly restrict or close SRHR-related online accounts, said, "It is deeply ironic that a conference dedicated to strengthening rights and participation in digital spaces is being shut down in this way."
Luca Stevenson, of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said RightsCon was a "critical" space for communities already pushed to the margins, including sex workers, LGBTQIA+ people, and those seeking sexual and reproductive healthcare.
Dangerous Precedent
Sibongile Ndashe, a South African lawyer and human rights activist who founded the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa, said the Zambian government's move set a dangerous precedent. "If cancellation of conferences becomes normalised, it is human rights groups that will progressively find it hard to convene. Restrictions on human rights harm those without power," she said.
