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When: October 20–26, 2019
Where: Rizal, Philippines

Coconet is a platform for digital rights movement building in Southeast Asia.

From October 20-26, 2019, 100-120 film-makers, researchers, journalists, human rights advocates, and technologists from across Asia will gather in the Philippines for Coconet II, a digital rights camp.

Organised by EngageMedia, the Association for Progressive Communications, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance and a host of partners, the camp will break down silos, catalyse regional networking and collaboration, develop skills, deepen relationships, spark campaigns, and bring new actors into the digital rights field.

Read more about Coconet here. The camp’s outcomes report can be accessed via this link.

Coconet II aims to:

• Strengthen the digital rights community and movement in Southeast Asia
• Create opportunities and build capacity for regional advocacy
• Mainstream digital rights
• Promote understanding and collaboration between human rights, media, technology, and digital rights groups
• Strengthen the use and development of open technology among civil society

Who should apply?

Our target participants are primarily those from Southeast Asia; however, we also welcome applications from East and South Asia, and Oceania. For travel support, we’ll prioritise applicants from Southeast Asia.

All participants must attend the entire length of the Camp, it is not possible to arrive late or leave early. The camp requires full engagement, and participants should clear their schedules before arrival to be able to participate fully. You won’t have much time to answer emails, which isn’t so bad 🙂

We encourage applications from

• Activists and human rights defenders
• Open source advocates, digital security trainers, and technologists supporting non-profits
• Creative change-makers, including artists, designers, and filmmakers
• Journalists and bloggers
• Policy experts, including lawyers, researchers, and academics

How are participants selected?

The following principles guide the selection of participants

• Expertise in one of the focus fields (eg. film-making, law, advocacy, open technology, journalism etc.)
• Willingness to contribute to the camp by sharing knowledge and skills with others
• Gender balance
• Active involvement in networks and movement-building initiatives
• Country balance
• Balance of Coconet I and new participants

Note that you don’t need to be a digital rights expert to attend, just strong interest to integrate digital rights into your work.

EngageMedia, SEAPA and APC will work with the core partners to select the final participants.

Costs and support

Coconet II has a scaled participation fee to assist with covering the cost of accommodation, flight subsidies, equipment and other organising needs. If you are selected to attend, your accommodation, meals and local transport in the Philippines will be covered.

Those awarded flight scholarships will also have travel insurance included.

Fees for civil society organisations (CSOs), for-profits, and individuals are as follows:

• Small to medium national CSOs, and South/Southeast Asia individuals – USD 100
• Asia-Pacific regional CSOs and for-profits, and other individuals – USD 200
• International foundations, for-profits and INGOs – USD 400

Participants facing difficulties to pay may request a fee waiver.

For questions or inquiries, please contact us.