Call for Experts: Develop Digital Rights Policy Papers

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) is inviting qualified experts to submit proposals for the development of Policy Papers on digital rights as part of the Reporting Digital Rights and Freedoms project. The papers will focus on identifying and addressing gaps in the digital rights landscape across the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia) and Turkey, where the legislative and policy frameworks remain outdated or insufficient.

BIRN particularly encourages applications from Turkey to explore the unique and evolving context of digital freedoms in the country.

Objectives

• Identify outdated, insufficient, or missing digital rights policies in the region
• Offer multi-sectoral, evidence-based policy recommendations
• Align national frameworks with international digital rights standards
• Strengthen governance and prevent digital rights violations across targeted countries

Eligibility

• Open to individuals or groups with proven experience in digital rights research or policy analysis
• Must demonstrate a solid understanding of digital rights concepts and the regional context
• Proposals must include a clearly defined and relevant topic for the policy paper
• Applicants should be able to engage stakeholders and produce a high-quality, structured policy paper

Submission deadline: May 27, 2025

For more information and to submit your abstract, please click here.