During the National Summit of Human Rights Defenders organized by the Mozambique Human Rights Defenders Network (RMDDH) in Maputo, digital security emerged as a central theme of discussion. In opening the session, moderator Dr. Helena Chiquele — feminist and human rights defender — emphasized that digital security is no longer merely a technical concern but a fundamental condition for the effective exercise of basic freedoms. In a context marked by increasing surveillance, smear campaigns, coordinated attacks, and hostility toward critical voices, the protection of data, communications, and digital identities has become essential for sustaining civic activism. Without digital security, freedoms such as expression, association, and political participation become significantly more vulnerable. The discussion underscored that digital security now represents a new frontline in the broader struggle to protect democracy and human rights.
Digital Security as an Essential Condition for the Exercise of Fundamental Freedoms
