Dr. Wemakor to Convene Global Dialogue on Press Freedom and Disability Inclusion at RightsCon 2026
Human Rights Reporters
4 min read
Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, is set to lead a high-level global dialogue on press freedom and disability inclusion at the RightsCon 2026 Summit in Lusaka, Zambia.
The summit, scheduled for May 5–8, 2026, will bring together thousands of stakeholders from across the world to engage on issues of digital rights, civic space, and inclusive development.
As part of the summit, Dr. Wemakor will convene and facilitate a featured session titled “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa.” The session is slated for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (Kenneth Kaunda Wing).
The dialogue forms part of the global convening organized by Access Now, an international non-profit organization headquartered in New York and widely recognized for its work in defending and advancing digital rights.
RightsCon 2026 is expected to attract between 2,500 and 4,000 in-person participants, alongside more than 3,000 virtual attendees from over 150 countries, making it one of the world’s leading gatherings on digital rights and civic engagement.
Addressing “Double Marginalization”
Dr. Wemakor’s session will focus on the growing threats to media freedom across Africa and their disproportionate impact on marginalized groups, particularly persons with disabilities.
The dialogue will examine how shrinking civic space and restrictions on press freedom continue to deepen inequalities, creating what advocates describe as “double marginalization”—a condition where persons with disabilities face both systemic exclusion from public life and limited representation in media narratives that shape policy and public discourse.
The session aims to generate practical, action-oriented strategies to strengthen inclusive media ecosystems, safeguard freedom of expression, and expand equitable access to digital and civic spaces across the continent.
A Decade of Advocacy and Global Engagement
Dr. Wemakor’s leadership in convening this dialogue reflects his growing international recognition as a human rights advocate and development communicator.
For over a decade, he has championed causes including human rights, child protection, gender equality, climate justice, and sustainable livelihoods, leading initiatives that empower vulnerable and marginalized communities across Ghana and beyond.
He currently serves as a Steering Committee Member of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and as Convener of its Youth Sub-Platform, representing more than 500 civil society organizations nationwide.
On the global stage, Dr. Wemakor has represented Ghana and delivered keynote addresses, speeches, and panel contributions at several high-level forums, including the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, the Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference, the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, and the Pan-African Conference on National Security and Human Rights in Nairobi.
He has also participated in major international engagements such as the South Korea COVID-19 Human Rights Forums and the High-Level Africa Civil Society AML/CFT Conference in Gaborone, Botswana, among others.
Recognitions and Achievements
Dr. Wemakor’s work has earned him numerous national and international recognitions.
He is a recipient of the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award for Best International Practice on Sustainability—making him the only Ghanaian awardee in West Africa—as well as the Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023). He was also a finalist for the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Award (2023).
Additionally, he led HRRG to a fourth-place finish in the Africans Rising Activism Award – Movement of the Year category (2020), received the Peace, Security and Education Award at the Africa Early Childhood Education Awards (2021), and was listed among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024).
In journalism, Dr. Wemakor was named Most Influential Student Media Personnel (2016) by the Ghana Institute of Journalism, won the National Migration Media Award (2018), and received recognition during the GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest for outstanding reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Internationally, he has been featured in the October 2020 edition of International Business Woman Magazine (Ukraine) and recognized by the World Bank for his contribution to the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report.
He also holds a Doctorate in Executive Leadership in Humanity (DEL) from the International Kingdom University, Florida, USA, and is a recipient of the Global Doctoral Humanitarian and Ministerial Excellence Award.
Global Panel of Experts
The session will feature an esteemed panel of international experts, including Dalitso Mvula, an environmental justice advocate from Lusaka; Michael Karanicolas, a UK-based expert on freedom of expression and digital governance; Alina Radu, an award-winning investigative journalist from Moldova; Elizabeth Zulu, a public health expert; and Joseph Mwanza, a disability rights advocate and Programs Officer at Disability Rights Watch.
Advancing Inclusive Media and Civic Space
Through this dialogue, HRRG seeks to contribute to global efforts to protect press freedom, promote inclusion, and strengthen democratic participation in the digital age.
Dr. Wemakor’s convening of the session underscores the organization’s growing global footprint and reinforces its commitment to amplifying marginalized voices, safeguarding civic space, and advancing inclusive, rights-based development across Africa and beyond.
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