About the statement:

Dr. Fatima Al-Kaabi, President of the UAHR, delivered an oral statement during the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, as part of the interactive dialogue on the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the work of UN bodies and their recommendations on human rights and emerging digital technologies, particularly AI. In her statement, she stressed the need for legal and regulatory frameworks to keep pace with rapid digital developments, and for AI to be harnessed to serve human dignity and promote digital justice and transparency, noting the pioneering experience of the UAE in this field.

Content of the statement:

• She welcomed the High Commissioner’s report, commending its efforts to evaluate the interaction of human rights bodies with emerging technologies.
• She emphasized that while AI and emerging technologies offer significant opportunities for advancing human rights, they also pose serious challenges to privacy, non-discrimination and accountability.
• She called for:
  • Enhancing coordination between the Human Rights Council, treaty bodies, and special procedures to address these challenges.
  • Developing clear international standards to govern the use of AI that ensures respect for human rights.
  • Institutionalizing digital justice and ensuring that everyone benefits from it without exclusion or discrimination.
• She praised the UAE’s experience in adopting an integrated strategy for AI and establishing ethical and legislative frameworks to ensure the responsible use of this technology.

Importance of the statement:

• Highlighting the human rights dimensions of global digital transformation: The statement stressed the need for technological advancements to be accompanied by preventive and legislative measures that respect human dignity and prevent AI misuse.
• Connecting global efforts with successful national plans: The statement presented the UAE’s experience as an inspiring model for responsible digital legislation, and linking national policies to the international human rights system.
• Confirming the Human Rights Council’s responsibility in the digital transformation: The statement called for expanding the role of the Human Rights Council to include monitoring the effects of digital technologies and launching proactive initiatives to protect rights and freedoms.
• Promoting the concept of “digital justice”: The statement added an important conceptual dimension, namely digital justice, as a natural extension of social and economic justice in the digital age.