Sahara Observatory Activities for the International Human Rights Day

Background
In an increasingly technology-dependent world, digitalization has become a central tool for advancing human rights—not only by raising awareness but also by building platforms for impact and community action. This panel discussion, organized by the Sahara Observatory as part of the 2024 International Human Rights Day celebrations, serves as the culmination of three productive years of digital advocacy under the theme: “Digitalization for Change: Three Years of Digital Advocacy for Human Rights and Creating Impact.”

This event marks a significant moment to review the Sahara Observatory’s digital advocacy experience. Over the past three years, the observatory has established a strong digital presence, highlighting human rights and sustainable development issues in Morocco’s southern provinces. It has leveraged digital tools to disseminate impactful content, including awareness videos, infographics, and blog posts, which helped raise public awareness and engage diverse social groups.

However, the journey was not without challenges. The observatory faced obstacles such as the spread of misinformation, difficulties reaching certain target audiences, and the need to enhance the capacities of young journalists and content creators in using digital technology for more effective advocacy.

This panel also ties into strengthening the right to development, a core focus of the Sahara Observatory’s work. By spotlighting major developmental changes in the southern provinces, the observatory has provided a comprehensive, balanced narrative linking development with human rights, demonstrating the importance of digital tools in defending these causes.

The event coincides with global shifts in digital rights, where technology has become a key means for monitoring violations, boosting advocacy, and involving individuals and communities in rights protection efforts. Therefore, the session aims to explore the future of digital advocacy, reviewing best practices to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

This background makes clear that the panel discussion is not an isolated event but part of the Sahara Observatory’s integrated strategy to maximize digital impact in achieving justice, building new capacities, and engaging the community on a continuous path toward positive change.

Objectives

• Evaluate the Sahara Observatory’s experience in digital advocacy by reviewing the successes and challenges encountered over three years of digital work.

• Enhance the use of technology in human rights protection by discussing best practices and emerging opportunities to increase the impact of digital advocacy.

• Launch new initiatives by motivating the public and partners to engage in the digital awareness campaign and adopt innovative advocacy tools.

• Empower new generations by emphasizing the importance of training youth and content creators to leverage digital platforms in human rights issues.

• Highlight the critical role of training young people and content creators to effectively use digital platforms in human rights advocacy.

Discussion Topics

• The role of digitalization in monitoring violations and protecting rights: How can digital tools enhance transparency and accountability in human rights?

• Challenges facing digital advocacy: Addressing misinformation and media manipulation, ensuring messages reach the targeted audience.

• Successful digital experiences: Showcasing the Sahara Observatory’s work alongside other organizations that have achieved tangible impact through digital means.

• Future prospects: Exploring the future of digital advocacy and the role of artificial intelligence in strengthening human rights efforts.

The session included specialists and academics in human rights, digital journalists, media analysts, activists, and civil society organizations.

Conclusion
This panel discussion provided a unique opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders, including human rights academics, digital journalists, technology experts, and civil society activists. This diversity enriched the dialogue on using digital technology as a pivotal tool in rights protection, underscoring the importance of their contributions to developing effective strategies to overcome current challenges. Despite the successes achieved by the Sahara Observatory, the urgent need remains to continue joint efforts and build broader partnerships to achieve greater positive impact in the future—a priority reflected in the session’s overall recommendations.