Why “Silenced Twice” Matters: Reflections Ahead of RightsCon 2026

 

Across Africa, the conversation around press freedom is becoming increasingly urgent. From growing restrictions on journalists to shrinking civic space, concerns about the future of free expression continue to mount. Yet, beneath this broader crisis lies a deeper, often overlooked reality—the voices of persons with disabilities are being pushed even further to the margins.

For Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, a distinguished Ghanaian human rights advocate, journalist, and development communicator, this is not just a policy issue. It is a matter of justice, inclusion, and representation.

In a recent interview on Africa In Perspective, a programme on Lagos-based Radio Now 95.7 FM, Dr. Wemakor painted a compelling picture of what is at stake.

 Speaking ahead of a major global engagement, he warned that the decline in press freedom across parts of Africa is not only undermining democracy but also deepening inequality.

“The media is a vital tool for accountability and truth,” he said. “But when it is weakened, everyone is affected—especially those who are already marginalised.”

The Double Burden of Silence

At the heart of Dr. Wemakor’s advocacy is what he describes as “double marginalisation.” 

Persons with disabilities, he explained, already face significant structural barriers, including stigma, discrimination, and limited access to platforms that amplify their voices.

When press freedom is threatened, these existing challenges are compounded.

“Their stories are often the first to disappear,” he noted.

This reality forms the foundation of an upcoming high-level dialogue session to be hosted by Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) at the RightsCon 2026 summit in Lusaka, Zambia.

Scheduled for May 6, 2026, the session is aptly themed: “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa.”

A Global Stage for a Critical Conversation

The dialogue will take place at RightsCon, a leading global summit on digital rights organised by Access Now. The event brings together governments, civil society organisations, journalists, and technology experts from around the world to shape conversations on human rights in the digital age.

This year’s summit will also coincide with the World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference convened by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Zambia, further amplifying the relevance of the discussions.

For Dr. Wemakor, the timing could not be more critical.

From Dialogue to Action

Beyond raising awareness, the upcoming session aims to chart a path forward. It will convene a diverse group of stakeholders—including journalists, policymakers, civil society actors, disability rights advocates, and experts from various fields—to explore practical solutions to the challenges at hand.

Dr. Wemakor believes that meaningful change will require bold and coordinated action.

He is calling on African governments to strengthen legal protections for journalists, repeal laws that criminalise legitimate reporting, and ensure accountability for attacks against media professionals.

At the same time, he emphasises the need for media institutions to look inward.

Inclusion, he argues, must go beyond rhetoric. It requires deliberate efforts to recruit journalists with disabilities and ensure that content is accessible through tools such as sign language interpretation, captioning, and assistive technologies.

Building an Inclusive Future

“Addressing these challenges requires a collective effort,” Dr. Wemakor stressed. “Governments, media institutions, civil society, and international partners must work together to build an inclusive and rights-based digital future.”

He also underscored the importance of policy reform, urging African states to ratify the African Disability Protocol as a key step toward protecting the rights of persons with disabilities and tackling discrimination.

No Voice Should Be Left Behind

As anticipation builds toward RightsCon 2026, one message stands out clearly: the fight for press freedom cannot be separated from the fight for inclusion.

For Dr. Wemakor, safeguarding media freedom is not just about protecting journalists—it is about ensuring that every voice, especially those most often unheard, has a place in the conversation.

Because in the end, a society that silences some of its people risks losing the very essence of its democracy.