Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is set to draw global attention to the shrinking civic space in Africa and the persistent marginalization of persons with disabilities at the upcoming RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka, Zambia this May.
Led by its Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, the organization will convene a featured high-level dialogue titled “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa.”
The session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (Kenneth Kaunda Wing).
It forms part of the global convening organized by Access Now, an international non-profit organization headquartered in New York and widely recognized for its work in defending and expanding digital rights worldwide.
The dialogue will bring together leading experts from journalism, law, disability rights advocacy, environmental advocacy and public health to explore the intersection of press freedom, disability inclusion and civic participation.
It will shed light on the “double marginalization” faced by persons with disabilities—systemic barriers that limit their participation, alongside their underrepresentation within media systems that shape public discourse.
Ahead of the event, Dr. Wemakor hinted that the session seeks to develop practical and actionable solutions to protect freedom of expression while fostering inclusive media ecosystems across Africa and beyond.
Participants are expected to examine strategies for strengthening democratic resilience, expanding access to digital and civic spaces, and advancing rights-based approaches to digital governance.
The discussion will also highlight the critical role of journalists, policymakers, civil society actors and international institutions in safeguarding fundamental freedoms and amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups.
Dr. Wemakor, who will serve as both organizer and facilitator of the session, is a recognized human rights advocate, peace ambassador and development communicator.
He is the founder of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a frontline civil society organization committed to promoting human dignity, social justice, democratic accountability and inclusive development in Ghana, across Africa and globally.
For more than a decade, HRRG has supported women, children, youth, rural communities and other marginalized groups to assert their rights, engage decision-makers and participate meaningfully in governance processes.
The organization operates across key thematic areas such as child protection and child labour, women’s rights and gender justice, land and environmental protection, climate justice, civic space protection, policy advocacy, access to justice for marginalized communities, investigative journalism, research and documentation, as well as training and capacity building for civil society actors, journalists and community leaders, alongside promoting sustainable livelihoods.
HRRG’s impact has earned it widespread recognition, including the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award for Best International Practice on Sustainability under its KTT Project, which has reached over 60,000 beneficiaries.
The organization has also received the Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023), recognition at the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards (2023), and placed fourth in the Africans Rising Activism Award – Movement of the Year (2020).
Additional honours include the Honorary Award for Peace, Security and Education at the Africa Early Childhood Education Awards (2021), listing among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024), and a feature in Business Woman Club International Magazine (Ukraine, 2020) for its contributions to women’s rights during the COVID-19 period.
The organization has also been recognized by the World Bank for its expert contribution to the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report.
Beyond its national footprint, HRRG convenes and supports more than 500 civil society organizations through the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has represented Ghana at major global and continental platforms, including the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, and the Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference.
The session will feature a distinguished panel of international speakers, including Dalitso Mvula of the Centre for Environment Justice in Lusaka, who will discuss how climate change disproportionately affects persons with disabilities and the need for inclusive policy and media responses.
Also participating are Michael Karanicolas, a UK-based associate professor specializing in freedom of expression and digital governance, and Alina Radu, an award-winning investigative journalist recognized for advancing media independence and anti-corruption efforts in Eastern Europe (Moldova).
The panel will also include Elizabeth Zulu, a respected health expert contributing perspectives on health equity, community engagement and the social determinants affecting vulnerable populations, alongside Joseph Mwanza, a disability rights advocate and Programs Officer at Disability Rights Watch, who is expected to share practical insights on advancing disability inclusion and strengthening advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
HRRG indicated that the dialogue is expected to contribute to global efforts aimed at protecting press freedom, promoting inclusion and strengthening democratic participation in the digital age.
The organization’s participation in RightsCon 2026 represents another milestone in its expanding international engagement and reinforces its commitment to amplifying African voices on key human rights issues at the global level.
