<html><body><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; color: #000000"><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;" data-mce-style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 );background-color:transparent;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Colleagues, </span></span></div><div data-marker="__QUOTED_TEXT__"><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><div id="zimbraEditorContainer" style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000" class="3"><div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><div><p style="margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;" data-mce-style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1377_com_zimbra_date"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1698_com_zimbra_date"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1706_com_zimbra_date"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1714_com_zimbra_date"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1722_com_zimbra_date">Today</span></span></span></span></span>, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa <strong>(EA)</strong> has published its </span><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1378_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1699_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1707_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1715_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1723_com_zimbra_url"><a href="https://www.article19.org/freedom-of-expression-and-the-digital-environment-in-eastern-africa/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Freedom of Expression and the Digital Environment in Eastern Africa 2020</a></span></span></span></span></span> report. This report examines the digital environment across six countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. </span></p><p style="margin:0px;text-align:justify"><br></p><p style="margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The report focuses on developments and challenges across three key areas, namely: </span><br></p><ol style="text-align:justify"><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freedom of expression online: Can words land you behind bars? </span><br></li><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Internet accessibility and affordability: Are governments across Eastern Africa pulling their own weight to narrow the digital divide?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Privacy and data protection: Is the public’s personal data safe across Eastern Africa? </span></li></ol><p style="margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The report proposes that, at a minimum, the six Eastern African countries should: </span></p><ul style="text-align:justify"><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">repeal and amend laws and policies which criminalise freedom of expression online</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">regularly publish comprehensive annual reports on universal access/service funding mechanisms</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">refrain from adopting and using Covid-19 contact tracing applications without appropriate human rights safeguards, including sunset clauses to strengthen privacy and data protection.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please interact with, and share, the <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1379_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1700_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1708_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1716_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1724_com_zimbra_url"><a href="https://www.article19.org/freedom-of-expression-and-the-digital-environment-in-eastern-africa/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">launch page</a></span></span></span></span></span>, <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1380_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1701_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1709_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1717_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1725_com_zimbra_url"><a href="https://www.article19.org/resources/threats-to-free-speech-online-in-eastern-africa/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a></span></span></span></span></span> and <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1381_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1702_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1710_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1718_com_zimbra_url"><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT1726_com_zimbra_url"><a href="https://twitter.com/article19eafric" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">social media</a></span></span></span></span></span> content.<span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;" data-mce-style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin:0px;text-align:justify"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;" data-mce-style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif;"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap" data-mce-style="color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am happy to provide more information and address any of your queries. </span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family:'arial' , 'helvetica' , sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:#000000"><br><div><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="82dcb844-d280-4267-9577-18b2822210f8"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regards,</span><br>
<div><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )" data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )" data-mce-style="color: #000000;">Sigi Waigumo Mwanzia,</span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )" data-mce-style="color: #000000;">Digital </span>Policy Consultant.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:left"><div style="color:#888888;font-family:'arial' , sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;line-height:normal"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><br><div><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 );font-style:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb( 255 , 255 , 255 );text-decoration:none;float:none;display:inline !important" data-mce-style="color: #000000; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">Read more about ARTICLE 19's #MissingVoices campaign here: <a href="https://www.article19.org/campaigns/missingvoices/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.article19.org/campaigns/missingvoices/ </a></span> </span><div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px"><br>
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<div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="color:rgb( 255 , 0 , 0 )" data-mce-style="color: #ff0000;">ARTICLE 19 EASTERN AFRICA<br>
</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b style="color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 0 )" data-mce-style="color: #000000;">DEFENDING FREEDOM </b><span style="color:#000000" data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><b>OF EXPRESSION AND INFORMATION</b></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color:rgb( 51 , 51 , 51 )" data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="color:#000000" data-mce-style="color: #000000;">W</span> </span><span style="color:#3333ff" data-mce-style="color: #3333ff;"><a href="https://www.article19.org/regional-office/eastern-africa/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.article19.org/regional-office/eastern-africa/</a></span><br>
<span style="color:rgb( 51 , 51 , 51 )" data-mce-style="color: #333333;"><span style="color:#000000" data-mce-style="color: #000000;">Tw</span> <span style="color:#666666" data-mce-style="color: #666666;"> <span style="color:#3333ff" data-mce-style="color: #3333ff;">@article19eafric</span></span></span><br>
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</div></div><span style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Fa<span style="color:rgb( 51 , 51 , 51 )" data-mce-style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color:#3333ff" data-mce-style="color: #3333ff;"><a href="http://facebook.com/article19org" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/article19org</a></span><span style="color:#3333ff" data-mce-style="color: #3333ff;"></span><span style="background-color:rgb( 0 , 0 , 255 )" data-mce-style="background-color: #0000ff;"></span></span><br></div></div></div></div><span style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 255); font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-mce-style="background-color: #0000ff; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div></body></html>