Zambia cancels world’s largest human rights and technology conference days before opening
Isabel Choat
The Zambian government abruptly canceled RightsCon 2026, the world’s largest conference on human rights and technology, days before its opening, saying the event did not align with ‘national values.’ Human rights activists condemned the move as censorship and linked it to the upcoming August 2026 general election.
The world’s largest conference on human rights and technology, RightsCon 2026, has been canceled just days before its scheduled start, after the Zambian government declared the event did not align with ‘national values.’ The conference was set to run from May 5 to 8 in the capital Lusaka, with more than 2,600 activists, tech experts, academics, and policymakers expected to attend.
Initially, the Zambian government welcomed the conference, organized by the New York-based group Access Now. But last week, Thabo Kawana, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communications, announced the event would not proceed to ensure ‘alignment with national values, policy priorities and broader public interest.’
Human rights activists called it a blatant act of censorship and part of a broader crackdown on legitimate debate. Linda Kasonde, a prominent Zambian lawyer and civil society activist, argued the decision reflects a disregard for human rights and is linked to the upcoming general election in August 2026. ‘When the current administration came to power, they were a government of rule of law and democracy,’ she said. ‘What we are seeing is a gradual erosion of rights — the right to free speech and the right to assembly.’
Reports in Zambia suggest Chinese pressure may have driven the unexpected move, as some Taiwanese delegates were expected to attend and the conference was to be held at a Chinese-funded venue. This year's gathering was the first to be held in southern Africa and was seen as a promotional opportunity for the region.
Access Now said it spent months coordinating with the government to ensure transparency, but the unilateral decision is viewed as evidence of ‘transnational repression targeting civil society, shrinking the operating space.’ Most delegates had already booked tickets and paid travel costs, causing significant financial and opportunity losses for organizations working on human rights, reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Chioma Agwuegbo, executive director of the Nigerian group TechHer, commented: ‘At a time when civil society space across the continent is contracting, this incident reflects a worrying pattern where compliance mechanisms are weaponized to restrict gatherings, dialogue, and dissent.’
