HRRG to drive conversation on press freedom and disability inclusion at RightsCon 2026

Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is set to bring global attention to the challenges of shrinking civic space in Africa and the continued marginalisation of persons with disabilities at the RightsCon 2026 Summit in Lusaka, Zambia.

The organisation, led by its Executive Director, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, will convene a high-level dialogue titled “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa.”

The session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the (Kenneth Kaunda Wing).

It forms part of the global summit organised by , an international organisation headquartered in New York and recognised worldwide for its work in advancing digital rights.

The dialogue will bring together experts from journalism, law, disability rights advocacy, environmental governance and public health to examine the intersection between press freedom, disability inclusion and civic participation.

Central to the discussion will be the concept of “double marginalisation,” where persons with disabilities face systemic barriers to participation while also remaining underrepresented in media narratives that shape public discourse.

Speaking ahead of the event, Dr. Wemakor said the session would focus on identifying practical solutions to safeguard freedom of expression while promoting inclusive and accessible media systems.

He noted that participants would explore strategies to strengthen democratic resilience, expand access to digital and civic spaces, and advance rights-based digital governance frameworks.

The dialogue is also expected to highlight the role of journalists, policymakers, civil society organisations and international institutions in protecting fundamental freedoms and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities.

Dr. Wemakor, who will serve as both organiser and facilitator, is a human rights advocate, peace ambassador and development communicator.

He is the founder of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, a civil society organisation committed to promoting human dignity, social justice, democratic accountability and inclusive development in Ghana and beyond.

For over a decade, HRRG has worked with women, children, youth, rural communities and other marginalised groups, supporting them to claim their rights, engage decision-makers and participate meaningfully in governance processes.

The organisation’s work spans key areas including child protection and child labour, women’s rights and gender justice, environmental and climate justice, civic space protection, policy advocacy, access to justice, investigative journalism, research and documentation, as well as training and capacity building for civil society actors, journalists and community leaders.

HRRG has received several recognitions for its impact, including the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award for Best International Practice on Sustainability under its KTT Project, which has reached more than 60,000 beneficiaries.

The organisation has also been honoured with the Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023), recognised at the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards (2023), and ranked fourth in the Africans Rising Activism Award – Movement of the Year category (2020).

Additional recognitions include the Honorary Award for Peace, Security and Education at the Africa Early Childhood Education Awards (2021) and its listing among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024).

HRRG has further been featured in Business Woman Club International Magazine (Ukraine, 2020) and acknowledged by the World Bank for its contribution to the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report.

Beyond its national footprint, the organisation supports more than 500 civil society organisations through the Ghana Civil Society Organisations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has represented Ghana at major international platforms, including the United Nations High-Level Political Forum and the Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference.

The RightsCon session will feature a panel of international speakers, including Dalitso Mvula of the Centre for Environment Justice in Lusaka; Michael Karanicolas, a UK-based expert on freedom of expression and digital governance; and Alina Radu, an investigative journalist from Moldova.

Also joining the discussion are Elizabeth Zulu, a public health expert, and Joseph Mwanza, a disability rights advocate and Programs Officer at Disability Rights Watch.

HRRG said the dialogue is expected to contribute to ongoing global efforts to promote press freedom, strengthen inclusion and deepen democratic participation in the digital age.

The organisation added that its participation in RightsCon 2026 marks another milestone in its growing international engagement and underscores its commitment to amplifying African voices on critical human rights issues.