Respect Strength, Question Power: Reflections from the 2026 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly By Nisrina Nadhifah Rahman Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. -

Respect Strength, Question Power: Reflections from the 2026 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly By Nisrina Nadhifah Rahman Jul 2 2026 (IPS) - “To respect strength, never power” is one of my favorite quotes from the acclaimed writer and activist, Arundhati Roy. For years, this quote has stayed with me. It encourages a way of life grounded in compassion rather than dominance. It was particularly on my mind as I returned from the June 2026 Digital Rights Asia-Pacific Assembly (DRAPAC26) in Manila, an annual forum organized by EngageMedia. Co-hosted by local partners, the Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) and DAKILA, it brought together more than 800 digital rights practitioners, researchers, funders, journalists, technologists, and activists from across the Asia-Pacific region. https://www.ipsnews.net/2026/07/respect-strength-question-power-reflections-from-the-2026-digital-rights-asia-pacific-assembly/ Copyright © 2026 IPS-Inter Press Service. All rights reserved. -