IGF 2021 WS #58
BUILDING EXCLUSION THROUGH VACCINE INEQUALITY AND DIGITAL ID

Organizer 1: Selina Onyando, Lawyers Hub
Organizer 2: Linda Bonyo, Lawyers Hub
Organizer 3: CATHERINE MUYA, LAWYERS HUB KENYA

Speaker 1: Linda Bonyo, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 2: CATHERINE WANJIRU MUYA, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 3: Isaac Rutemberg, Technical Community, African Group
Speaker 4: 'Gbenga Sesan, Civil Society, African Group

Moderator

CATHERINE MUYA, Civil Society, African Group

Online Moderator

Selina Onyando, Civil Society, African Group

Rapporteur

CATHERINE MUYA, Civil Society, African Group

Format

Panel - Auditorium - 60 Min

Policy Question(s)

Social inequality and the pandemic: What can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic context about the relationship between digital inequality and social and economic inequality? Similarly, what lessons can be drawn with respect to the pandemic and Internet-related human rights? What does this suggest about policy approaches for digitalisation and digital inclusion?
Promoting equitable development and preventing harm: How can we make use of digital technologies to promote more equitable and peaceful societies that are inclusive, resilient and sustainable? How can we make sure that digital technologies are not developed and used for harmful purposes? What values and norms should guide the development and use of technologies to enable this?

Countries globally are increasingly adopting vaccine passports, which are built over existing digital IDs, to aid recovery from the COVID19 Pandemic. Presently, the global south is living through vaccine inequality with many countries unable to procure enough vaccines for their population. Countries like India, are making digital IDs a mandatory requirement to accessing limited vaccines. However, Digital IDs in the global south such as Kenya, perpetuate the exclusion of minority and marginalized communities for example residents who lack basic identity documents to facilitate their enrolment into national digital identification systems. Therefore, we are likely to further entrench existing inequalities where access to vaccines or public services is based on exclusionary digital IDs. Owing to this, it is paramount for us to look into how to make digital IDs more inclusive. This session explores how the use of digital IDS has perpetuated exclusion during the covid19 pandemic and recommends measures we can take to build more inclusive ID Technologies. In detail, we look into the nexus of digital IDS and digital health and how to ensure the lasting design, use, and implementation promote inclusivity and prevent harm.

SDGs

10. Reduced Inequalities
16.9


Targets: This session explores the need for the inclusive design of digital systems to ensure everyone has access to legal identification. Additionally, it explores the impact of limited access to vaccines in middle and lower-income countries which is fostering the use of digital IDs to administer vaccines whereas richer nations with surplus supply need not take similar approaches. Further, it explores the impact of vaccine passports to access services and limit economic opportunities.

Description:

This session explores how the use of digital IDS has perpetuated exclusion during the covid19 pandemic and recommends measures we can take to build more inclusive ID Technologies. The panelists will draw from their work on privacy, digital ID, and exclusion to inform us on how this issue particularly affects the global south. Presently, the global south is living through vaccine inequality with many countries unable to procure enough vaccines for their population. Countries like India, are making digital IDs a mandatory requirement to accessing limited vaccines. Digital IDs are also used in making vaccine passports determining how citizens access services. However, Digital IDs in the global south such as Kenya, perpetuate the exclusion of minority and marginalized communities for example residents who lack basic identity documents to facilitate their enrolment into national digital identification systems. Therefore, we are likely to further entrench existing inequalities where access to vaccines or public services is based on exclusionary digital IDs.

Expected Outcomes

events or processes) you expect the session to produce or feed into.
From this session, we expect to generate meaningful discussion on the impacts of using exclusionary digital IDS in public health in the global south. We expect that the insights from this discussion will build into our work on Digital ID in Sub Saharan Africa and ultimately a follow-up publication on this issue

This session takes a panel format that facilitates active listening for both online and offline participants, It also can be streamed or watched at a remote Hub. To engage the audience, we will use:
a) Poll questions for those participating online, Twitter polls can be used for offline participants to generate traction for our session and IGF 2021.
b) The session will include an interactive Q &A session where, those on-site can get to ask their questions via Twitter, while those online ask their questions through the Q&A feature.

Online Participation



Usage of IGF Official Tool. Additional Tools proposed: We are planning to use our social media platforms: Instagram, the Verified Twitter account of the Lawyers Hub, and our partners to promote our session and increase participation during IGF. During the session, we plan to raise launch polls, take questions and encourage discussion via our Hashtags on Twitter.