On the Cancellation of Rights Con 2026

The recent cancellation of RightsCon in Zambia came to all as a surprise and came shortly after the release of the 2026 RSF Press Freedom Index—which revealed press freedom at a 25-year low—serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to protect and promote fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.

The global community working on digital rights and freedom of expression has reacted with different statements condemning the restrictions that led to this cancellation and echo the concerns raised in the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) statement (as Working Group 3 Thematic Lead). Their perspective, alongside the alarming trends in the RSF Index, reinforces the need for collective action to safeguard civic participation and press freedom.

At a time when these spaces are under threat, the importance of convening platforms like TED and Working Group 3 (WG3) cannot be overstated. Despite the setbacks, we demonstrated resilience by proceeding with the WG3 exchange online, reaffirming our commitment to advancing information integrity and supporting open, inclusive dialogue.

Also TED sees the development as call to doble down the efforts to create and protect spaces for collaboration, learning, and advocacy. Let us use this moment to reaffirm our dedication to these principles and to the mission of TED and WG3.