Having conversations and continuing to learn about the defense of digital rights is something we have been doing as UAF-LAC for some time now. During September 2024, we traveled to Portugal to participate in the Global Gathering, a global event that brings together digital rights networks, for creation, collaboration, the exchange of knowledge, brainstorming and debates. We had not participated since 2018, due to prioritizing participation in other spaces.
This space brought together digital rights defenders to talk and exchange ideas on issues related to digital rights, online security for civil society and other challenges in the intersection of human rights and technology. The feminist perspective was brought to the discussion tables and the activities through the voices of cyberfeminists and hacktivists.
We had the opportunity to meet and engage in dialogue with organizations that have received a #ApoyosFAU to promote their actions of digital care and feminist technologies. We also held conversations about how to finance the care of digital bodies, understood as an extension of who we are now and the spaces where much of the resistance and the construction of a dignified life is organized.
During the gathering, we participated in a space with donors convened by the Ford Foundation, where we shared some of the struggles that we face as a Fund to continue supporting grassroots actions for digital care. For example, challenges such as the financial system, the obstacles organizations face when receiving transfers, counties that lack even internet access for many organizations or the accessibility barriers for people with functional diversity. In addition to this, we were able to listen to how other funds and funders are organizing to support and finance projects and initiatives on issues of technologies and digital care, it was a space that allowed us to better understand the ecosystem and how it is moving specifically on digital issues globally.
This return to the Global Gathering provided us with essential information about this space and at the same time about how movements, organizations, donors and activists that are organizing around digital and technology issues. We were able to observe the change in the space’s methodology, a new way of organizing this gathering where dialogue and conversation are prioritized and they do not overload the agenda. It was very gratifying to return to this space and think about how we can continue creating together with other funds, organizations and donors to collectively take care of our digital bodies.