Statement of Solidarity: RightsCon 2026 Cancellation

In response to the abrupt cancellation of RightsCon 2026 by the Zambian government, days before the gathering was scheduled to begin, the Investor Alliance for Human Rights issued the following statement:

The Investor Alliance for Human Rights stands in solidarity with our trusted partner Access Now and with digital rights partners and others across our global civil society who are committed to defending digital rights.

For over a decade, RightsCon has proven its value as a critical convening that brings together policymakers, private sector representatives, academics, digital ecosystem stakeholders, and activists to discuss the challenges of the day at the intersection of technology and human rights. Those gathered have shared and learned from the lived experiences of affected rightsholders, collaborated with a focus on addressing and alleviating digital rights harms, and building solutions for the greater good our globalized, digitized society.

We are deeply alarmed by and condemn the Zambian government’s decision to unilaterally “postpone” the event. We are also very concerned that this maneuver is part of wider trends of democratic recession, the shrinking of shared civic spaces globally, and the broad undermining of the human rights of freedom of expression, freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and privacy by autocratic governments and corporate power.
The suppression of RightsCon was a clear attempt to silence the digital rights movement. But this movement is undaunted and is resolved to carry on with a determined effort to fight for human rights.

We support and continue to stand alongside our partner, Access Now, the digital rights community and all others who are championing digital freedom and rights for all.

Media Contact:
Alex Tucciarone, ICCR Director of Communications
Atucciarone@iccr.org