Dlshad Othman (Syria): Mr. Othman is a Syrian activist and IT engineer who provides Syrians with digital security resources and assistance so that they can utilize online communications and advocacy freely and securely in spite of increased online government repression in the form of censorship, sophisticated cyber attacks, and intense surveillance.
Pranesh Prakash (India): Mr. Prakash is a program manager at the Centre for Internet and Society in Bangalore. He works primarily in areas where technology and public policy intersect, engaging in research and policy advocacy on issues relating to online freedom of expression, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights reform, and Internet governance.
Koundjoro Gabriel Kambou (Burkina Faso): Mr. Kambou is a journalist-reporter at Lefaso.net and an animator of blogs. He campaigns for and promotes human rights and the values of democracy and freedom of the press. He publishes videos and articles to sensitize people to and educate them on human rights issues.
Sopheap Chak (Cambodia): Ms. Chak is the Program Director of the Cambodia Center for Human Rights (CCHR) and is one of Cambodia’s leading human rights bloggers. She mobilizes young activists around the country in civic engagement through the Cambodian Youth Network for Change. She is a contributing author for Global Voice Online, UPI Asia Online, and Furutre Challenges.
Andres Azpurua (Venezuela): Mr. Azpurua is committed to generating digital tools that empower Venezuelans to better exercise their human rights. He has contributed o the creation of a digital platform that promotes and defends voters’ rights. He is also the founder of a digital initiative that seeks to build a volunteer base from civil society to promote the right of association in Venezuela.
Emin Milli (Azerbaijan): Mr. Milli is a writer and a dissident who has actively used online networking tools to spread information about human rights violations in Azerbaijan. He was imprisoned for 16 months for his critical views about the government of Azerbaijan. He was conditionally released in 2010 and is currently writing his dissertation in London on “New Media and Arab Revolutions”.
