Digital Health and Rights Project - The Youth Collective

Project Overview

The Digital Health and Rights Consortium unites international social scientists, human rights lawyers, health advocates, and networks of people living with HIV.
The consortium focuses on research and advocacy for rights-based digital governance in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, Vietnam, and globally.
A transnational participatory action research approach is utilized, emphasizing the voices and leadership of diverse young adults.
The goal is to shape the future of human rights in the digital age.
Advocacy and campaigns are evidence-based, informed by participatory and community-engaged research.
Research involves young adults and civil society organizations in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam.

Digital technologies are rapidly transforming the world, including the health sector.
Research by DHRP highlights the significant impact of digital technologies and AI on health.
Tools like telemedicine, mobile health apps, and AI-powered health information systems are increasingly adopted.
Innovations improve information-sharing, service access, and disease surveillance.
Communities use social media and chat platforms to create support groups for information and care.
Benefits include better health access, reduced stigma, and increased autonomy.
Risks include inequitable access, digital divides, and inadequate digital governance and regulation.

Restless Development, representing the DHRP consortium, will support young leaders in leading a digital advocacy campaign.
The campaign focuses on amplifying youth voices in digital rights governance, particularly in health and youth participation.
It builds on ongoing research and advocacy efforts by consortium partners in Colombia, Ghana, Kenya, and Vietnam.
The objective is to drive policy changes that prioritize digital health rights.
Key issues addressed include:
- Digital literacy
- Privacy rights
- Equitable access to digital tools
- Youth involvement in decision-making processes

We will use a power shifting approach for the campaign.
Youth voices and active participation will drive the campaign.
Community Advisory Teams in Colombia, Kenya, Ghana, and Vietnam will co-develop it.
Focus on meaningful “asks” based on young people’s priorities.
Youth-led in four countries with potential for global scaling.
Tools will target those most affected by the digital divide and governance gaps.

Support young people in contributing to discussions on digital health rights and their inclusion in decision-making processes.
Address the effects of digital divides, privacy concerns, and biases in digital health technologies on underrepresented youth.
Work with stakeholders to advance digital health governance policies that uphold youth rights and reduce digital disparities.
Facilitate global engagement in digital rights advocacy through youth-driven initiatives online and offline.

The campaign will be created together with young people, using insights from current and past research.

Towards People-centred Digital Health Strategies: Gender, Equity, Rights and Inclusion