Access Now cancelled RightsCon 2026 in Lusaka after PRC diplomats pressured Zambia to exclude Taiwanese participants and censor topics.
Key Takeaways
PRC diplomats contacted Zambia’s Ministry of Technology and Science on April 27, demanding Taiwanese civil society be barred from attending in person.
Zambia announced a “postponement” via state media at 9:33pm on a public holiday with no formal notice to Access Now, despite a signed MoU.
The government’s conditions for lifting the postponement: moderate specific topics and exclude at-risk communities including Taiwanese participants, online and in person.
Access Now refused, calling exclusion a red line; the event had 2,600 in-person and 1,100 online participants registered from 150+ countries.
The incident is characterized as transnational repression, with no alternative venue or date confirmed yet; community survey launched to determine next steps.
