When Silence Speaks Loudest: HRRG Takes Press Freedom and Disability Inclusion Debate to RightsCon 2026 in Zambia

 In many parts of Africa today, conversations about democracy are increasingly shaped by a familiar concern: shrinking civic space. At the same time, another quieter but equally urgent struggle continues—ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left out of those conversations altogether.

It is against this backdrop that Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is heading to Lusaka, Zambia, for RightsCon 2026, bringing with it a dialogue that seeks to connect both struggles in a single global conversation.

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., HRRG will host a high-level session titled “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa” at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (Kenneth Kaunda Wing).

The session is part of the wider RightsCon summit convened by Access Now, a global organisation based in New York known for its work in defending digital rights and civic freedoms.

For HRRG, the Lusaka dialogue is not just another conference engagement—it is a continuation of a long-standing advocacy journey focused on inclusion, accountability, and human dignity.

At the centre of the discussion is a concept advocates describe as “double marginalisation.” It refers to the experience of persons with disabilities who, in addition to facing structural barriers in society, are often underrepresented or misrepresented in media spaces that shape public opinion and policy direction.

Speaking ahead of the event, Executive Director of HRRG, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, said the issue goes beyond media freedom alone.

“Press freedom and disability inclusion are deeply interconnected. When the media space shrinks, the voices of already marginalised groups are often the first to disappear,” he noted.

The dialogue will therefore explore how inclusive media ecosystems can be strengthened, how freedom of expression can be safeguarded, and how digital and civic spaces can be made more accessible to all.

A diverse panel of international experts will lead the conversation. These include Dalitso Mvula of the Centre for Environment Justice in Lusaka, Michael Karanicolas, an Associate Professor of Law and Public Policy with expertise in freedom of expression and digital governance, and Alina Radu, an award-winning investigative journalist and co-founder of Ziarul de Gardă in Moldova, known for her strong anti-corruption reporting.

Also on the panel are Elizabeth Zulu, a public health expert focused on health equity and community engagement, and Joseph Mwanza, a disability rights advocate and Programmes Officer at Disability Rights Watch, who will bring practical perspectives on disability inclusion and grassroots advocacy.

Across the continent, the urgency of such conversations is difficult to ignore. Journalists continue to face intimidation, surveillance, and in some cases arrests linked to their work on governance and human rights issues. In Ghana, the 2019 killing of investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale remains a stark reminder of the risks media practitioners face, while broader civil society reports point to persistent threats and harassment against journalists.

For persons with disabilities, the challenges are different but no less significant—ranging from inaccessible digital platforms to limited representation in policy and media narratives.

HRRG believes these overlapping realities make a strong case for more inclusive approaches to media freedom and civic participation. 

The organization says the Lusaka dialogue is expected to generate practical recommendations aimed at improving legal protections for journalists, expanding accessible media content, and strengthening inclusive digital governance frameworks.

Beyond the immediate session, HRRG’s presence at RightsCon 2026 also reflects its growing international footprint in the human rights space.

The organization has spent over a decade working across child protection, gender justice, environmental advocacy, civic space protection, investigative journalism, and capacity building for civil society actors and journalists. It also convenes more than 500 civil society organizations through the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

From local communities in Ghana to global policy spaces, HRRG’s work continues to centre one idea: that meaningful democracy is only possible when every voice is heard—including those too often pushed to the margins.