A. BACKGROUND

The action “Foster responsible digital citizenship to promote freedom of expression in Bangladesh” is being implemented jointly by Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and Dnet, funded by the European Union. This action is targeted to address the better practice of freedom of expression in Bangladesh by promoting knowledge on digital citizenship. This is applicable for citizens, especially for youth who are mainly active and express themselves through social media and digital platforms.

This project aims to capacitate the targeted youth to freely and safely express themselves in the digital space. It will support them to learn about the national and international norms, etiquettes and laws pertaining to uses of the digital spaces and will make them aware of responsible interaction in digital media. The action will also address the challenges to Freedom of Expression (FOE) in the country posed by the Digital Security Act.

Enhancing knowledge and supporting the youth (particularly university students at Dhaka and Rajshahi) to have a positive experience in the digital world will be the focus of this action. It will emphasize on education, awareness and sensitization of relevant stakeholders to support and guide the youth for a responsive digital existence while practicing the right to freedom of expression.

A.1 OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION

The overall objective of this action is to contribute to a safe and secure digital environment for Freedom of Expression and critical thinking in Bangladesh, especially for young people from disadvantaged groups and remote areas who, when they become students and move to cities, are expected to know how to operate in the digital world.

The specific objective of this action is to capacitate young citizens in Bangladesh to express themselves freely, appropriately, lawfully and safely in the public sphere and to create an enabling and supportive environment for them to do so.

Young citizens in Bangladesh need to be supported in their desire to express themselves responsibly. At the same time their environment, both on a more personal level (teachers and parents) as well as the political and legislative level (policy-makers and decision-makers) needs to have an increased awareness of how to create a balance between the need to protect citizens’ human rights and the right to freedom of expression and how young people can be supported in their quest for good digital citizenship.

Click Here for detailed ToR