State institutions across East and Southern Africa have been challenged to move from policy commitments to concrete enforcement in addressing the growing threat of online harms, during a regional engagement convened by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) in partnership with the Irene M. Staehlin Foundation.
The forum brought together representatives from National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), law enforcement agencies, data protection authorities, communications regulators, members of the judiciary, and civil society actors to examine the role of state institutions in combating Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), disinformation, digital surveillance, and other emerging online harms.
Digital Spaces Under Threat
Participants acknowledged that digital platforms have become critical spaces for civic engagement, advocacy, and democratic participation—particularly for women, youth, journalists, and marginalised communities. However, the rapid expansion of digital participation has been accompanied by rising incidents of online abuse, coordinated harassment, and AI-driven misinformation campaigns.
Speakers warned that these harms undermine freedom of expression, democratic accountability, and public trust in institutions.
Reference was made to standards adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, including the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which provides guidance for safeguarding rights in the digital age.
Human Rights Institutions Call for Reform
Rasford Chilalo of the Malawi Human Rights Commission underscored the responsibility of state institutions to prioritise vulnerable populations.
“Human rights institutions must remain instrumental in the protection and promotion of the rights of marginalised and most vulnerable populations, including women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons,” Chilalo said. “Legislative and programming reforms are necessary to strengthen protection against digital harms.”
From South Africa, Brandon Ainslie, Provincial Legal Officer at the South African Human Rights Commission, highlighted the need for adaptive investigative mechanisms.
“Our work involves investigating complaints, engaging directly with complainants and public institutions, drafting investigative reports, and facilitating dispute resolution in matters involving equality and dignity,” Ainslie noted. “As online harms evolve, our institutional responses must evolve as well.”
Strengthening Cybercrime Capacity
Wellington Chindzakazi, Head of the Digital Forensic and Cyber Crime Unit of the Malawi Police Service, emphasised the importance of building technical capacity within law enforcement.
“With over two decades of experience in investigations and digital analysis, I have seen how rapidly cyber threats evolve,” Chindzakazi said. “Investing in digital forensic capacity and strengthening inter-agency cooperation are critical to tackling online harms effectively.”
Call for Accountability and Political Will
Adding a civil society and governance perspective, Denis Kodhe, a governance and policy advocate, stressed that political will remains the missing link in combating digital abuse.
“Policy frameworks alone are not enough. We must see deliberate enforcement, institutional accountability, and adequate budgetary allocation to protect citizens online,” Dr. Kodhe said. “Online spaces must not become lawless zones where women and vulnerable groups are silenced through coordinated attacks and disinformation.”
He further emphasised the importance of regional collaboration, noting that digital harms often transcend borders and require harmonised regulatory responses.
“State actors must work jointly with civil society, the judiciary, regulators, and the private sector. Protecting digital rights is not optional—it is central to safeguarding democracy itself,” he added.
Bridging the Implementation Gap
Participants agreed that while several African countries have adopted progressive digital rights frameworks, implementation gaps persist. Key challenges identified included weak enforcement mechanisms, low awareness of TFGBV among policymakers and law enforcement, insufficient survivor support systems, and limited cross-sector collaboration.
The forum concluded with calls for:
- Domestication and enforcement of continental digital rights standards.
- Gender-responsive digital safety policies.
- Enhanced digital literacy and public awareness campaigns.
- Strengthened investigative and judicial capacity to address cybercrime.
- Sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration across borders.
As digital transformation accelerates across the region, stakeholders reiterated that safeguarding human rights online requires coordinated, accountable, and rights-based state action.
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