Keeping online spaces safe for refugees’ political participation
In conversation with human rights defender Yambio David
This conversation originally occurred as part of RightsCon 2023 during the lightning talk “Keeping online spaces safe for refugees’ political participation” and has been adapted for the Migrant Matters audience. Through a partnership between Refugees in Libya and MIRR Alliance, the author interviewed Yambio David of Refugees in Libya about his experiences of utilizing online spaces for political participation as a human rights defender.
In recent years, the use of online spaces by refugees as a means of political expression has gained significant attention. With the rise of social media and other digital platforms, refugees have been able to leverage these tools to raise awareness about their situation and advocate for their rights. Through online activism, refugees have been able to connect with a broader audience, engage in political discourse, and challenge dominant narratives that often marginalize their perspectives. This trend highlights the growing importance of digital spaces in shaping political participation and representation, particularly for those who have been historically excluded from traditional political processes.
Kristen Allen: Can you share how refugees use online spaces to be political actors?
Yambio David: Refugees in Libya are very active online. We use social media for communication, and since the organization has grown out of Libya to different north African countries and become pan-European, the vast majority of its activities and organization are done digitally. Meetings are held online, documents are shared and worked upon online, communication takes place online between the members, and external communication with state, non-state and media entities. Mobilization takes place online. Digital security is therefore key for the safety and security of our members. We can be subject to cyber attacks as an organization and as individuals, when our privacy is undermined by state or non-state actors.
Kristen Allen: Please share with us about the organization you founded.
Yambio David: Refugees in Libya is an organization that includes refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, regardless of their ‘official’ status. The organization was born out of a need to voice the grave concerns of a large heterogeneous group of people residing in Libya who were being subjected to violence and made vulnerable through other means. The demands of the organization are that refugees are evacuated to safe countries, that refugees are fairly treated by UNHCR, that the EU abolished the funding of the Libyan coast guard and migrant detention centers, that justice is delivered to those who have been murdered, tortured and arbitrarily detained, and to lobby with Libya to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention.
The main focus of the organization is on Libya, but the movement has been growing across other northern African countries, namely Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Sudan where similar problems are faced by refugees, and across Europe where demonstrations and presentations have taken place in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Kristen Allen: How have you used online spaces for your work? What limitations have you come across in using technology for advocacy? What does the world know about refugee experiences in Libya that we otherwise wouldn’t without technology?
Yambio David: With the growing use of technologies and online spaces, and given our circumstances while on the move on in Libya, we turned to the use of online spaces as the online means of salvation to us since we were deliberately silenced for a number of years.
We have used a variety of social media platforms for public and private exchange to raise awareness about our plights, however, we felt being limited or silenced by these social media platforms in the contexts of contents that we wanted the world to see exactly what it takes to be a refugees in a country like Libya where there are no respects for human rights.
Oftentimes we have been blocked from posting contents on the media or our contents being removed under the pretext that the material were either graphic, torture, sexual, or inciting violence.
We have been met with the limitations of not being able to clearly and freely express our wills and contentwise.
Today, at least the world has heard the voices of the victims speaking up for themselves, the world has seen most of the footage of the most inhumane and degrading circumstances provided by refugees without filters.
Thanks to technology and the use of online spaces, refugees are now being able to take part on political stages which they wouldn’t do without these online spaces.
Kristen Allen: What online hate and harassment have you and your fellow advocates faced? Are there concerns about online hate turning into offline violence?
Yambio David: One of our primary considerations as an organization is always the safety and security of our members. In Libya and Europewise we realised that our own platforms became a weapon for the authorities, private sectors and the public which they used against us, we have been harassed, met with hate speeches that turned to offline violence, authorities have used different methods online to lure us into trap and get lead of us and this resulted into a dire situational change and threat of violence, imprisonment, torture, kidnapping, etcetera is so high that there is always high consideration to safety and security. Members who participate in demonstrations in Libya are particularly at risk, and after the experience of the 100-day protest which was forcibly ended by the Libyan authorities on the 10th January 2022, and which resulted in the imprisonment, disappearance, and deportation of many demonstrators.
Kristen Allen: Why do you think safety online is crucial for refugees?
Yambio David: Safety and promoting safe spaces for refugees’ voices are crucial for several reasons. Firstly, we often face physical and emotional harm due to our vulnerable status and past experiences. Creating safe spaces where we can share our stories and experiences without fear of judgment or harm is essential for our well-being.
Furthermore, safety online is crucial for us as it provides us with an avenue to connect with the world and access important information and resources. The internet can be a powerful tool for us to share our stories, connect with others, and advocate for our rights. However, online spaces can also be unsafe, with the potential for cyberbullying and harassment.
It is important to ensure that we are safe both online and offline. This requires creating safe and inclusive spaces where we can feel comfortable sharing our experiences and accessing resources. It also involves educating individuals and communities about the importance of empathy and understanding towards refugee voices and experiences. By prioritizing safety and promoting safe spaces, we can empower us to tell our stories and advocate for our rights, while also protecting our well-being.
Kristen Allen: How would you like the audience to respond to what you’ve shared?
Yambio David: If you are interested in supporting refugees in Libya, there are several ways you can take action.
You can visit the refugeesinlibya.org website to learn more about our mission and the current situation for refugees in Libya. From there, you can explore different ways to get involved, such as making a donation, volunteering, or sharing our messages on social media.
You can reach out to your local representatives and urge them to take action on behalf of refugees in Libya. This can include advocating for increased resettlement slots through the UNHCR and humanitarian corridors to third host countries, supporting policies that protect the rights of refugees, and raising awareness about the situation in Libya.
You can support other organizations and initiatives that are working to support refugees around the world. By standing in solidarity with refugees, we can help to create a more compassionate and inclusive world for all.
Yambio David is a human rights defender, organizer, activist, and refugee. He is passionate about refugees leading the way towards solutions to their challenges. His flight from forced conscription as a child soldier and war in South Sudan led him to Libya, where he faced migrant detention and abuse. Yambio harnesses the power of digital platforms to bring awareness to human rights abuses experienced by migrants in North Africa and Europe.
