About the Statement

A written statement was issued by the Union Association for Human Rights (UAHR), in cooperation with a consultative organization, under document number A/HRC/55/NGO/118. The statement, submitted to the Human Rights Council at its 55th session (February–April 2024), focuses on the urgent need to develop national and international strategies for the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) in a way that ensures respect for human rights. It calls for the adoption of a global legal and ethical framework to govern the development of this technology in line with the principles of digital justice.

Statement Content

• The statement highlights that modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, now pose a fundamental challenge to the global human rights framework.
• While acknowledging the benefits of AI, it warns that without clear legal and ethical safeguards, this technology can have significant negative consequences.
• The statement underscores the threats AI poses to fundamental rights such as privacy, security, health, education, and digital justice.

Human Rights Risks Associated with AI:

• Systematic violations of fundamental rights and freedoms.
• A rise in hate speech, violence, extremism, and discrimination.
• Widening the digital divide between countries and social groups.
• Undermining democratic values and legal accountability.

Call for a Comprehensive International Framework:

• Develop legislation that ensures AI respects human dignity and rights.
• Establish oversight institutions to monitor how states and major corporations use data.
• Promote good governance in the digital sphere and uphold the rule of law.

Highlighting the UAE’s Experience:

• The UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2071, aimed at leveraging AI for sustainable development and future investment.
• Leading institutional initiatives, including:
• The National Program for Artificial Intelligence.
• The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies.
• The UAE AI & Robotics Award for Good.
• Leadership in digital governance through:
• Public-private partnerships to regulate the sector.
• Ensuring responsible technology use in service of human well-being.

Key Recommendations

• Ensure AI aligns with human and democratic values.
• Assess AI’s impact on human rights and promote social responsibility.
• Develop legal, ethical, and technical frameworks to guide AI use.
• Build diverse international partnerships to create a comprehensive global AI approach.
• Draw on the UAE’s experience as a model for legal, ethical, and developmental regulation of AI.

Significance of the Statement

• The statement emphasizes the need for a global system that balances innovation with the protection of human rights.
• It identifies AI as a central issue for the future of human rights and development.
• It showcases the UAE as a model of equitable and sustainable digital governance.