Digital Tech for Peace
How to use your digital tools, data, and online presence for peace building?
In times of unprecedented global challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating international tensions, we must do more to drive collective efforts for peace, social cohesion, and human rights. While new surveillance and mapping technologies and increased use of Artificial Intelligence help to predict and tackle drivers of conflict and social tensions, we must empower local activists and community leaders to adapt to the new digital information ecosystem. Web 2.0 innovations have changed the way people find and consume information and engage with each other. We must all join the fight against fake news and hate speech.
This podcast series sheds light on how digital technologies are applied in a peace context. Hear stories and first-hand practical advice, conveniently packaged into short 15-minutes interviews with peace tech and international development experts.
Episode 1: What is peace tech? How is it used by civil society?
Dr. Lisa Schirch, Professor of Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Research Fellow at the Toda Peace Institute, introduces us to peace tech, its history, trends, current examples, and their impact – including Ushahidi, Build Up, Polis, and the “Angry Uncle†Chatbot.
Episode 2: Social media & conflict: Global framework, local context
Adrienne Brooks, Senior Advisor for the Technology for Development team at Mercy Corps, specializes in addressing the weaponization of social media as it relates to peacebuilding. She introduces Mercy Corps’ global framework for understanding risks and resilience of social media and conflict and how it is applied in local context.
Episode 3: Training youth social media activists
Jomari Guillermo, Communications Manager at Catholic Relief Services in the Philippines, shares lessons learned from social media training of youth activists for strengthening their peace agendas and increase influence.
Episode 4: Civil society’s role in fighting hate speech
Alice Nderitu, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide at the United Nations, explains how civil society organizations can join the collaborative flight against hate speech and contribute to the prevention of atrocity crimes.
For more information visit https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/
Episode 5: Guidance for NGOs to use social media for peace building
Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa, Special Advisor at the ICTPeace Foundation, offers guidance for civil society to better use their strong online presence and social media for peace building and social cohesion.
Digital Tech for Peace podcast (2022), produced by Sonja Ruetzel, ICT4D Conference Manager at CRS
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