Digital Dangers: The New Frontier for Human Rights Defense in Uganda
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In this episode of the Chapter Four Legacy Podcast, Mr. Moses Karis Oteba (Senior Protection Officer & Wellbeing Lead at DefendDefenders), a protection officer working with human rights defenders, explores the dynamic landscape of activism in Uganda and East Africa, with a particular focus on the shift to digital platforms due to shrinking civic spaces. Oteba discusses how this transition has introduced new threats like digital surveillance, cyberbullying, and online harassment, which often lead to real-world repercussions for activists.
He points out that while online activism offers new avenues for expressing dissent and mobilizing support, it also exposes activists to unprecedented forms of attack that can compromise their safety and psychological well-being. The conversation also delves into the psychological impact of activism, particularly how the COVID-19 lockdowns normalized mental health discussions within the human rights community.
Oteba describes the support mechanisms now in place, such as therapy sessions, self-care workshops, and the importance of empathy, to help activists cope with stress and burnout. Looking forward to the 2025 election year in Uganda, he predicts a surge in online activism due to fears of physical assembly, underscoring the need for enhanced digital security and mental health support to protect those at the forefront of human rights advocacy.
He points out that while online activism offers new avenues for expressing dissent and mobilizing support, it also exposes activists to unprecedented forms of attack that can compromise their safety and psychological well-being. The conversation also delves into the psychological impact of activism, particularly how the COVID-19 lockdowns normalized mental health discussions within the human rights community.
Oteba describes the support mechanisms now in place, such as therapy sessions, self-care workshops, and the importance of empathy, to help activists cope with stress and burnout. Looking forward to the 2025 election year in Uganda, he predicts a surge in online activism due to fears of physical assembly, underscoring the need for enhanced digital security and mental health support to protect those at the forefront of human rights advocacy.
