Global Digital Rights Coalition

The Global Digital Rights Coalition (GDRC) is a collective of civil society organisations from the Global Majority and Global North, offering our shared expertise to anchor global tech policy and governance in international human rights law and to guarantee meaningful multistakeholder engagement.

Previously formed as the Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS), in early 2026, the GDRC expanded its focus to include global tech policy and governance processes at large. This includes the implementation of the outcomes of the WSIS+20 review process and the Global Digital Compact, including the mechanisms evolving from those processes, such as the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the UN CSTD Working Group on Data Governance (WGDG) and the operationalisation of the permanent mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). 

As a collective, we are committed to working with UN member states and other stakeholders to ensure the outcomes of global tech policy and governance processes achieve a people-centric and rights-based digital future.

Our members are: 

Access Now – ARTICLE 19 – Association for Progressive Communications (APC) – Center for Communication Governance (CCG), National Law University Delhi – Data Privacy Brasil – Derechos Digitales – Digital Rights Foundation – DW Akademie – European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) – FactSpace West Africa – Fundación Multitudes – Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) – Global Network Initiative (GNI) – Global Partners Digital (GPD) – International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) – Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) – Paradigm Initiative – Protect.ngo – Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D) – Research ICT Africa – Tech Global Institute – WITNESS – World Association for Christian Communication (WACC)

The GDRC is currently redesigning its priorities. We will share more information soon.

 

The GDRC-WSIS worked to achieve the following priorities:

1. Promote a human rights-based, people-centric, sustainable and development-oriented approach to the WSIS+20 review:

Ensuring that the review and implementation of the WSIS action lines and outcomes are anchored in international human rights law. This includes strengthening the WSIS framework to safeguard against human rights abuses including surveillance, Internet shutdowns and censorship; promoting rights-respecting regulation; and formally recognising the role of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

2. Advance the multistakeholder approach to global Internet governance and digital policy processes:

Including through promoting the practical implementation of the Sao Paulo Multistakeholder Guidelines, which will create more open, transparent, accessible, equitable, and inclusive policymaking at all levels.

3. Strengthen the WSIS vision and its institutions like the Internet Governance Forum (IGF):

Preventing the WSIS institutions from being subsumed into or diluted by other digital governance processes and ensuring the continued existence and effectiveness of the IGF. New global digital frameworks, such as the Global Digital Compact, should be implemented through the WSIS architecture.

Global Dialogue on AI Governance

Submissions

• Civil Society Read Out Report – 1st United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance [Co-authored by five civil society coalitions: the Global Digital Rights Coalition, the Global Digital Justice Forum, the Global South Alliance, MAP-AI and the Civil society members of the Gender in Digital Coalition]
• Global Digital Rights Coalition Joint Submission to the Global Dialogue on AI Governance 

 

WSIS+20 Review Process

Submissions

• Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS) Input to the Zero Draft of the WSIS+20 Outcome Document
• Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS): Joint Input to Elements Paper for the WSIS+20 overall review
• Civil society joint input: ITU Council Working Group on WSIS & SDGs Call for Inputs on the WSIS+20

• GDRC-WSIS Statement on Strengthening Human Rights and Multistakeholder Visions in the WSIS+20 Outcome Document

Cross-community statements, drafted jointly with other coalitions and individuals

• Joint Statement on WSIS & Human Rights: A Fundamental Relationship [Co-authored Global Digital Rights Coalition for WSIS (GDRC-WSIS), the Global Digital Justice Forum (GDJF) and ICANN’s Noncommercial Stakeholder Group (NCSG)]
• Five-Point Plan Follow-up: Eight Practical Recommendations [Cross-stakeholder]
• Five-Point Plan for an Inclusive WSIS+20 Review [Cross-stakeholder]

We are a dynamic, outcome-focused coalition.

We welcome new members from civil society organisations who align with our priorities and share our values of collaboration and impact. 

To join the coalition, prospective members should be nominated by an existing coalition member. Prospective members may also reach out to coalition members to request to be nominated to join.