Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 2: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Organizer 2: Intergovernmental Organization, Intergovernmental Organization
Speaker 1: Okille Ashanut, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Dragori Tim, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 3: Joseph Kibugu, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Dragori Tim, Private Sector, African Group
Speaker 3: Joseph Kibugu, Civil Society, African Group
Format
Break-out Group Discussions - Round Tables - 90 Min
Policy Question(s)
Digital policy and human rights frameworks: What is the relationship between digital policy and development and the established international frameworks for civil and political rights as set out in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and further interpretation of these in the online context provided by various resolutions of the Human Rights Council? How do policy makers and other stakeholders effectively connect these global instruments and interpretations to national contexts? What is the role of different local, national, regional and international stakeholders in achieving digital inclusion that meets the requirements of users in all communities?
Inclusion, rights and stakeholder roles and responsibilities: What are/should be the responsibilities of governments, businesses, the technical community, civil society, the academic and research sector and community-based actors with regard to digital inclusion and respect for human rights, and what is needed for them to fulfil these in an efficient and effective manner?
Inclusion, rights and stakeholder roles and responsibilities: What are/should be the responsibilities of governments, businesses, the technical community, civil society, the academic and research sector and community-based actors with regard to digital inclusion and respect for human rights, and what is needed for them to fulfil these in an efficient and effective manner?
Through an inclusive and dynamic process of dialogue, the session will identify good practices for stakeholder engagement fro rightsrespecting technology across different technologies and companies across the African region.
SDGs
9.5
9.c
10. Reduced Inequalities
10.6
Targets: There is a well-established understanding that digital technology is a cross-cutting accelerator for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is essential to harness this potential to be able to reach the goals by 2030. The benefits of digital technology lie at the core of fostering the Sustainable Development Goals within the 2030 Agenda. However, there is a growing sense that the impact of technological change on development could be more profound, as the speed of innovation causes social and economic disruptions of which the consequences – including on human rights and development - are not yet clear. The emergence of new technologies, such as AI, robotics, and block chain, and especially their convergence, will be the driving force of radical change. New policies and measures are needed to steer this change into a direction that benefits development objectives while mitigating risks of adverse impact, demanding considerable awareness and adaptability by governments. To harness the positive contribution of digital technologies on development, there is a critical need to more effectively prevent and mitigate the risks, including on human rights. This requires clearer guidance about what should be expected on human rights from companies as they develop and deploy digital technologies in developing economies. A strong opportunity lies with the interwoven character of the SDGs and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has put the planet and people at the center of development, building specifically on international human rights standards as stating that the aim of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “realise the human rights of all”. Both the SDGs and the UNGPs focus at the potential of the cooperation of states and business through an inclusive approach with civil society to foster a transition to a sustainable use of resources, fair governance practices and inclusive growth for all. The UNGPs provide a roadmap to build in human rights protections and dignity for all within the 2030 agenda, ensuring that new technologies are developed, designed and deployed especially for the most marginalized, such as human right defenders, women and LGBTQI communities. The corporate responsibility to respect Human Rights and Human Rights due diligence measures include the idea that companies are pro-actively changing practices and addressing systemic issues to deliver positive development gains and do not exacerbate inequalities. At this juncture, action should be focused on supporting responsible development and use of technology in the private sector as a cross-cutting theme for sustainable development, where business and human rights standards are an integrated part.
9.c
10. Reduced Inequalities
10.6
Targets: There is a well-established understanding that digital technology is a cross-cutting accelerator for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is essential to harness this potential to be able to reach the goals by 2030. The benefits of digital technology lie at the core of fostering the Sustainable Development Goals within the 2030 Agenda. However, there is a growing sense that the impact of technological change on development could be more profound, as the speed of innovation causes social and economic disruptions of which the consequences – including on human rights and development - are not yet clear. The emergence of new technologies, such as AI, robotics, and block chain, and especially their convergence, will be the driving force of radical change. New policies and measures are needed to steer this change into a direction that benefits development objectives while mitigating risks of adverse impact, demanding considerable awareness and adaptability by governments. To harness the positive contribution of digital technologies on development, there is a critical need to more effectively prevent and mitigate the risks, including on human rights. This requires clearer guidance about what should be expected on human rights from companies as they develop and deploy digital technologies in developing economies. A strong opportunity lies with the interwoven character of the SDGs and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has put the planet and people at the center of development, building specifically on international human rights standards as stating that the aim of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to “realise the human rights of all”. Both the SDGs and the UNGPs focus at the potential of the cooperation of states and business through an inclusive approach with civil society to foster a transition to a sustainable use of resources, fair governance practices and inclusive growth for all. The UNGPs provide a roadmap to build in human rights protections and dignity for all within the 2030 agenda, ensuring that new technologies are developed, designed and deployed especially for the most marginalized, such as human right defenders, women and LGBTQI communities. The corporate responsibility to respect Human Rights and Human Rights due diligence measures include the idea that companies are pro-actively changing practices and addressing systemic issues to deliver positive development gains and do not exacerbate inequalities. At this juncture, action should be focused on supporting responsible development and use of technology in the private sector as a cross-cutting theme for sustainable development, where business and human rights standards are an integrated part.
Description:
The `UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) articulate a clear expectation for the private sector to respect human rights. and are applicable to all companies—regardless of industry sector, size, structure or operating context—to identify and address human rights risks that might occur in relation to the use of their products and services. In 2019, UN Human Rights launched the B-Tech project which provides authoritative guidance and resources for implementing the UNGPs in the technology sector. However, the discourse around business and human rights in tech is still a relatively new subject for Africa. The rapid pace of technological advancement in African countries poses new challenges for human rights in the region, such as discrimination in algorithm-based decision making in credit scoring or company involvement in curbing freedom of expression, e.g. through internet shutdowns in election times. The UNGPs presents opportunities to address and mitigate these human rights risks, by complementing and filling the governance gaps in business and human rights areas. Only through navigating these adverse impacts on human rights can the full benefits of technology in promoting human rights be realized in the African region. It is therefore imperative to reflect on early multi stakeholder-engagement around tech company conduct and identify how we can put human rights front and centre in how technology companies do business in Africa.
The `UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) articulate a clear expectation for the private sector to respect human rights. and are applicable to all companies—regardless of industry sector, size, structure or operating context—to identify and address human rights risks that might occur in relation to the use of their products and services. In 2019, UN Human Rights launched the B-Tech project which provides authoritative guidance and resources for implementing the UNGPs in the technology sector. However, the discourse around business and human rights in tech is still a relatively new subject for Africa. The rapid pace of technological advancement in African countries poses new challenges for human rights in the region, such as discrimination in algorithm-based decision making in credit scoring or company involvement in curbing freedom of expression, e.g. through internet shutdowns in election times. The UNGPs presents opportunities to address and mitigate these human rights risks, by complementing and filling the governance gaps in business and human rights areas. Only through navigating these adverse impacts on human rights can the full benefits of technology in promoting human rights be realized in the African region. It is therefore imperative to reflect on early multi stakeholder-engagement around tech company conduct and identify how we can put human rights front and centre in how technology companies do business in Africa.
Expected Outcomes
This session aims to:
1. Identify key issues on the intersection of human rights and technology company conduct in Africa
2. Explore ways in which the UNGPs on business and human rights framework can be applied in the tech sector; and foster multi-stakeholder dialogue
3. Discuss the essential roles of the government, private sector and civil society organisations in promoting business and human rights in the tech sector, including examples of good practices
The
approach of Business and Human Rights, circling around the United
Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs),
endorsed by the Human Rights Council in 2011, can offer a
principled approach to ensuring that technology companies'
governance and operations are grounded in respect for human
rights. The Guiding Principles can serve as tool for guiding
company conduct because they are internationally agreed and
supported by a diverse set of stakeholders including business,
governments and civil society around the world. The workshop will
identify and analyse best practices in Africa and
address the complexity, scale and fast-evolving nature of the
technology industry in Africa.
Online Participation
Usage of IGF Official Tool.