The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria in partnership with UNESCO under the Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) Phase II Project cordially invites you to a webinar on Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) Webinar Series on Content Governance and Digital Rights
Webinar Details
Date: Thursday, 13 November 2025
Time:11:00 – 12:00 (SAST)
Online (via Zoom)
About the Webinar Series
Social media has become a powerful space for civic engagement, public discourse, and advocacy. Yet, it also presents new challenges from disinformation and hate speech to gender-based online violence that threaten social cohesion and democratic participation.
The Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project, an initiative led by UNESCO, seeks to build resilience against these online harms by fostering rights-based, inclusive, and accountable digital spaces.
As part of SM4P Phase II, the Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, will host a two-part webinar series on content governance and digital rights in South Africa. These sessions will bring together civil society actors, media practitioners, academics, youth, and policymakers to strengthen collective action and build informed, rights-based responses to digital challenges.
Webinar 1 Focus:
Foundations of Content Governance and Digital Rights
Participants will:
- Explore the evolving landscape of online harms such as disinformation, hate speech, and gender-based violence.
- Understand rights-based frameworks for platform accountability and content moderation.
- Engage in interactive discussions on best practices and collaborative approaches to inclusive digital governance.
Programme Highlights
|
Time |
Session |
Facilitators |
|
10:00 – 10:10 |
Welcome and Introductions |
CHR Project Lead – Belinda |
|
10:10 – 10:40 |
The Landscape of Online Harms |
CHR & Research ICT Africa |
|
10:40 – 11:10 |
Principles of Content Governance |
CHR & Media Monitoring Africa |
|
11:10 – 11:30 |
Interactive Discussion |
All Facilitators |
|
11:30 – 12:00 |
Next Steps and Closing |
CHR |
Who Should Attend
Civil society organisations, journalists and media practitioners, academics, youth networks, women’s rights advocates, and policymakers interested in advancing transparency, accountability, and inclusion in digital governance.
Expected Outcomes
By participating, attendees will:
- Strengthen their understanding of digital rights and content governance.
- Contribute to cross-sector dialogue and coalition-building for safer online spaces.
- Support the development of evidence-based recommendations for policy and platform reform.