In conversation with Sibongile Mokapane and Ompha Tshamano.

In 2022, The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria undertook a research and advocacy project that assessed the status of digital rights in Southern Africa. Guided by the report titled The Digital Rights Landscape in Southern Africa, the Centre embarked on a training and capacity-building workshop to enhance awareness and interest in digital rights among parliamentarians. This podcast series features various stakeholders who share their expertise on thematic areas covered during the training. 

In this episode, Sibongile Mokapane and Ompha Tshamano discuss women’s rights in the digital age in Lesotho, including the gender-digital divide. Sibongile shares her observations on the patriarchal power dynamics in the digital spaces and acknowledges that the cyberspace mimics the patriarchal power dynamics that are found offline. This conversation also explores the various forms of abuse and challenges that women face while accessing digital spaces in Lesotho.

Sibongile Mokapane is a passionate human rights lawyer specializing in women’s and children's rights, digital rights, and gender issues. With an LLB and an LLM degree, she is an advocate admitted to practice and currently working as an advocacy specialist at Politics4Her, focusing on the Women's Leadership and Political Participation portfolio. Sibongile's dedication to justice extends beyond her professional life. She is deeply committed to addressing the unique challenges faced by women and children, using her expertise in human rights law to advocate for their rights. Through her legal skills, advocacy efforts, and unwavering commitment, Sibongile strives to create positive change in her community and contribute to a more equitable society.,

Ompha Tshamano is an LLM Candidate at the University of Pretoria and a Project Associate at the Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit at the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.

This conversation was recorded 21 July 2023.

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