RightsCon 2026 Cancelled After Zambian Government Cedes to Chinese Pressure Over Taiwanese Participation

RightsCon was set for May 5-8, 2026 in Lusaka. After Chinese pressure blocked Taiwanese President Lai’s Eswatini visit on April 22, Zambian officials postponed the summit in early May, citing a need to align with “national values” (permanent secretary Thabo Kawana). On May 2 Access Now cancelled, saying Chinese interference sought to bar Taiwanese participants. UNESCO then moved its press-freedom prize ceremony to Paris.

China pressure blamed as Zambia cancels rights summit over Taiwan issue

Zambia’s economy relies heavily on Chinese mining investment and the conference venue was donated by China. RightsCon, organized by U.S.-based Access Now, focuses on digital-rights and was held in Taipei in 2025. Key actors include Access Now, Zambian officials such as permanent secretary Thabo Kawana, Taiwan’s Digital Affairs Minister Lin Yi-jing, Zambian lawyer Linda Kasonde, and Chinese diplomatic channels alleged to have pressured Lusaka.

Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwanese activists shuts down rights summitChina pressure blamed as Zambia cancels rights summit over Taiwan issueNewser

The summit expected 2,600 in-person delegates and 1,100 online participants from over 150 countries, covering internet censorship, AI surveillance and sexual-reproductive-health rights. Its cancellation removes a major forum for activists, technologists and policymakers, weakening coordinated digital-rights efforts across Africa.

The Guardian

Zambian officials said the event must reflect national values and public interest. Access Now rejected any ban on Taiwanese participants, calling the cancellation foreign interference. Lin Yi-jing said it shows China’s discomfort with democratic ideals. Human Rights Watch demanded a clear explanation, and UNESCO scaled back its press-freedom event.

Newser

Linda Kasonde warned the move signals a slow degradation of rights and curtails freedom of expression. Chioma Agwuegbo of TechHer said it silences voices and weakens ecosystems protecting women and girls online. Martha Dimitratou called the shutdown deeply ironic, and Sibongile Ndashe cautioned that normalising such cancellations would impede human-rights advocacy.

The Guardian

Zambian authorities cite alignment with national values as the reason for cancellation, while Access Now and civil-society groups attribute it to Chinese pressure over Taiwanese participation. No Chinese statement was released, and the definition of “national values” remains unclear.

Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwanese activists shuts down rights summit

• “We believe foreign interference is the reason RightsCon 2026 won't proceed in Zambia,” — Access Now, spokesperson

Newser

• “the ideas of freedom, democracy and rule of law that Taiwan and RightsCon represent.” — Lin Yi-jing, Taiwan’s Minister of Digital Affairs

Newser

• “When the current administration came into power, they were a government of rule of law and democracy.” — Linda Kasonde, Zambian lawyer, founder of LCK Freedom Foundation

The Guardian

• “These constraints silence voices and weaken ecosystems working to protect fundamental human rights, including the safety and dignity of women and girls online.” — Chioma Agwuegbo, director, TechHer

The Guardian

• “It is deeply ironic that a conference dedicated to strengthening rights and participation in digital spaces is being shut down in this way,” — Martha Dimitratou, director, Repro Uncensored

The Guardian

Access Now is scouting alternative venues for the 2027 summit. UNESCO intends to reconvene its press-freedom activities later in 2026. Analysts expect increased scrutiny of Chinese influence in African policy ahead of Zambia’s August 2026 general election.

The Guardian