Introduction
Module 6: Litigating Digital Rights Cases in Africa
Effective litigation can achieve profound systemic change. Although litigation can be a protracted and costly process, under the right circumstances it can contribute meaningfully to the evolution of legal frameworks that truly ensure that human rights are respected, protected, and promoted. Strategic litigation has been instrumental in advancing freedom of expression and digital rights in many jurisdictions, and the myriad contemporary challenges to human rights online call for new and innovative uses of strategic litigation to hold both state and non-state actors accountable.
This module seeks to outline some of the basic principles in litigation and gives an overview of litigating in various courts across the African continent. It concludes with some practical tips on establishing a litigation strategy.
This module should be read in conjunction with the following resources: