Session
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: An interactive roundtable layout during 60 minutes suit our activity. Speakers will present the theme for about 30 minutes. Then they will open the floor to questions.
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the metaverse hold the potential to reshape societies. Yet, these innovations also bring unprecedented challenges, particularly in safeguarding human rights. At the heart of this technological revolution, technical standards play a pivotal role in ensuring that these new systems are interoperable, secure, and inclusive.
This session will explore how trust can be built through a rights-based approach to standard-setting, ensuring that emerging technologies uphold human dignity and foster equitable progress. Drawing from insights gained through global initiatives and past events, the discussion will highlight the importance of translating human rights principles into actionable technical guidelines. By doing so, standards can bridge the gap between innovation and responsibility, fostering trust across diverse stakeholders.
Join us as we delve into the intersection of technology and human rights, engaging experts to share strategies, success stories, and the challenges of embedding human rights into technical standards. This session aims to empower stakeholders—from governments to UN agencies and civil society—to collaborate effectively, creating frameworks that balance innovation with human rights safeguards and contribute to a fairer, more inclusive digital future.
1. Olivier Alais, Program Coordinator at International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
2. Marek Janovský, First Secretary Digital/New Tech/Cyber Diplomacy at Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic in Geneva
3. Michel de Souza, Human Rights Officer at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Point of contact: Olivier Alais - [email protected]
- Marek Janovský, First Secretary - Cyber Diplomacy at Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic in Geneva (online)
- Shirani De Clercq, Expertise France economist seconded at the Saudi Ministry of Digital Technology (MCIT) (onsite)
- Yoo Jin Kim, Human Rights Officer (OHCHR) (Online)
- ‘Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative (Onsite)
- Florian Ostmann, Director of AI Governance and Regulatory Innovation at Alan Turing Institute (online)
Dhevy Sivaprakasam, Consultant, OHCHR
Olivier Alais, Program Coordinator, ITU
Jin Cui, JPO, ITU
Targets: This session is closely aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) due to its focus on integrating technology and human rights in a responsible and inclusive manner. Below are the SDGs that relate to the themes addressed in the session: 1. SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all - Target 8.4: Improve progressively global resource efficiency in consumption and production and decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. 2. SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation - Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities of industrial sectors, and encourage innovation to promote sustainable development. 3. SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries - Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. 4. SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels - Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. 5. SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development - Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. These SDGs highlight the broader implications of the session's objectives, emphasizing the importance of integrating human rights considerations into technical standards and fostering collaborative approaches to sustainable development. The session's focus on building trust and inclusivity aligns with these goals, contributing to efforts aimed at achieving a more equitable, sustainable, and rights-based digital future.