The implications of 'digital trade' on human rights

© Benjamin Haas via 123RF

The conference, which will take place from 31 May to 1 June 2018 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, will explore digital trade and human rights under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event will feature an interesting dialogue between Vera Songwe, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA); her predecessor, Carlos Lopes and ABOU-ZEID Amani, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission (AUC), on the opportunities and challenges of digital trade, reported David Luke, coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) at the ECA.

Organised by ATPC in partnership with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) East Africa Regional Office, and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Geneva Office, the conference will take place this week at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa. It is expected to set the pace for further collaborations between the three institutions in line with the AfCFTA, as explained by ATPC’s coordinator.

“The outcomes of the conference are expected to inform the development of the three organisations’ joint research programme on digital trade, inclusion, privacy and human rights with policy recommendations for the second phase of the AfCFTA negotiations and for policy makers and entrepreneurs in this area,” said Luke.

The event will be attended by experts from the African Union Commission, civil society organisations, Regional Economic Communities, academia, international organisations, private sector, and women and youth representatives.