In December 2024, the United Nations organized an internet governance conference in Riyadh, where officials silenced criticism of the Saudi government. Human Rights Watch reports that the UN’s IGF secretariat suppressed remarks by a prominent Saudi human rights advocate during a workshop and threatened to eject attendees advocating for civil rights. This aligns with a troubling pattern of host nations stifling dissent at major UN events.
At the IGF, vital comments regarding Saudi human rights issues were omitted from the official records. The workshop, presented by Human Rights Watch and ALQST, aimed to explore the implications of the UN Cybercrime Treaty, but instead faced censorship and intimidation tactics. Lina al-Hathloul, a key speaker, and other digital rights advocates refrained from attending in person due to threats to their safety.
Discussion topics included how Saudi Arabia employs vague anti-cybercrime laws to target activism. Al-Hathloul emphasized the risks posed by such laws, stating they “define criminal offenses in dangerously vague terms.” Despite requests for transparency from Human Rights Watch, the IGF’s secretariat simply cited its code of conduct and deemed the decision unchallengeable.
The IGF’s actions, including the removal of sensitive video content and transcripts, highlight a significant repression of civil society voices at UN events. Notably, video edits erased crucial references to imprisoned activists, demonstrating a clear lack of accountability. The event’s recorded materials were altered significantly before being republished, leaving a muted narrative devoid of real-life implications.
Moreover, individual acts of solidarity, like a moment of silence for detained activists, were overshadowed by the UN’s compliance with the host government’s requests. Human Rights Watch officials voiced their concerns about the developing atmosphere of censorship, contending that it undermines the IGF’s core mission of facilitating open dialogue. They called for the UN to foster conditions that uphold freedom of expression across all its conferences.
Human Rights Watch criticized the UN for censoring critiques of Saudi Arabia during the IGF workshop in Riyadh, highlighting escalating suppression of civil society voices. UN officials omitted significant criticism from official records following government complaints, reflecting a broader trend of oppression at such gatherings. Activists and organizations are calling for the UN to guarantee safety and free expression at its events.
The events at the 19th annual UN Internet Governance Forum underscore a worrying trend where host governments leverage their position to silence dissenting voices. This not only compromises the integrity of discussions on vital internet policy issues but also poses grave risks to activists advocating for human rights. The UN is urged to reevaluate its hosting policies to protect civil society participants and uphold principles of free speech in future forums.
Original Source: www.hrw.org
