FROM SILENCE TO ACTION: PARADIGM INITIATIVE, CIVIC WATCH PARTNER TO CHAMPION DIGITAL RIGHTS IN CAMEROON.

Group Picture with Participants.

When 30 -year-old Manka’a (Not her real name) from Bamenda began receiving anonymous threats on Facebook after reporting on the  Anglophone crisis, she thought it was a one-off, but the harassment grew relentless, derogatory messages, and death threats flooded her inbox. Feeling unsafe, she deactivated her social media accounts, effectively cutting herself off from the digital world.

“I felt silenced and alone,” Manka’a recalls. “I didn’t even know if there were laws to protect people like me online so I had to run out of Bamenda for my safety.”

Manka’a’s experience mirrors that of many Cameroonians whose rights are violated in digital spaces, often with little knowledge of how to seek redress.

This narrative is beginning to shift, thanks to initiatives like the Digital Rights Academy co-organized on April 14, 2025 by  Paradigm Initiative and Civic Watch.

The one day academy brought together journalists, civil society actors, and communication experts in Yaounde for a deep dive into digital rights, data protection, and advocacy strategies. It came at a pivotal moment, as Cameroon heads toward a high-stakes presidential election later this year an event historically marred by censorship, internet blackouts, and harassment of online voices.

Dr. Desmond Ngala, President/Founder Civic Watch

“I think data rights in Cameroon today are no longer a taboo topic,” said Ngala Desmond, Founder of Civic Watch. “Unlike before, we’re seeing a surge in awareness, but also an increase in violations, especially as we approach the elections. This partnership between Civic Watch and Paradigm Initiative could not have come at a better time.”

Paradigm Initiative’s Director, ‘Gbenga Sesan, emphasized that digital rights are fundamental human rights. “If the digital environment does not support the rights of citizens, we will never achieve a thriving digital economy,” he said. “Every internet shutdown, every act of surveillance, costs a country, not just politically, but economically.”

‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director Paradigm Initiative

Through interactive sessions and real-life case studies, the academy introduced participants to key resources such as LONDA, a research report assessing digital rights across twenty six African countries and REPOTI, an online platform where citizens can report digital rights violations and seek redress.

For Ngala Hansel, a journalist and participant, the experience was eye-opening.

“The digital rights bill passed just four months ago, and until now, it was all blurry to me,” he admitted. “I now understand how to protect people’s information, and more importantly, how to protect myself.”

As elections loom, Hansel expressed concerns shared by many Cameroonian journalists.

Ngala Hansel, Journalist/Participant

“We’re expected to critique power, but here, that’s often treated like treason. Now I know where the legal lines are and when to take the risk to speak the truth.”

The forum also spotlighted a deeper cultural issue; the normalization of silence.

“Citizens have become so used to rights violations that they call it ‘resilience’,” ‘Gbenga observed. “But that’s just acceptance. True advocacy demands we push back, document, and demand better.”

With platforms like the Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF) set to hold its next edition in Zambia later this month, Paradigm Initiative continues to create safe spaces for these crucial conversations.

As the final session wrapped up, participants were urged to take what they had learned beyond the academy.

cross section of participants in session

Ngala Desmond echoed a call to action. He said “Nobody is going to make this job easy for you. Speak up when rights are violated”. Let’s be clear, governments aren’t the only violators. Users, platforms, and regulators all have a role.”

“You’re communication experts,” ‘Gbenga said. “Mix that with your new knowledge and tell the world what a digital Africa should look like, one where rights are respected, and no one is forced offline” just like it was for  Manka’a.