African Commission Hosts Consultation Meeting on Human Rights and Emerging Technologies
Kigali, Rwanda – In a pivotal move to address the implications of emerging technologies on human and peoples' rights across Africa, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) will hold a Consultation Meeting from 30th September to 1st October 2024. This significant event is orchestrated by Honourable Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, the Focal Point on the Study concerning human and peoples’ rights in the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and other new and emerging technologies.
The Consultation Meeting in Kigali follows the Commission’s Resolution ACHPR/RES. 473 (EXT.OS/XXXI) 2021. It serves as a continuation of the expert validation meeting held from 2nd to 4th May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, where the initial draft of the Study was presented and reviewed. The meeting aims to refine and enhance the draft study according to rigorous institutional standards and feedback received.
The event, supported technically by the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, will gather a diverse array of participants. These include experts from the technology sector, human rights professionals, and representatives from national and international bodies. The primary goals are multifaceted:
Presentation: To present the draft study as updated post-validation workshop to a broader circle of stakeholders, ensuring that it transcends the confines of expert review to include diverse insights.
Assessment: To evaluate how effectively the revised draft incorporates feedback from the initial validation workshop and aligns with the study’s core objectives.
Input Solicitation: To garner additional input from a wider range of stakeholders beyond the technical experts, enriching the study with varied perspectives.
Future Directions: To debate and delineate forward-looking strategies and proposals addressing the study’s highlighted issues. This includes potential legislative, institutional, and governance measures on national, continental, and international levels.
Awareness: To enhance public comprehension of both the ongoing study and the broader initiatives of the African Commission, generating a wider public discourse on these critical issues.
Post-Kigali, the draft study will undergo further refinements based on the inputs received during the consultation. Thereafter, the draft will be made accessible to the public to solicit broader feedback.
This Consultation Meeting marks an essential step in integrating human rights considerations within the rapidly evolving tech landscape in Africa. By engaging with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the African Commission aims to ensure that the advancements in AI and other technologies promote and protect human and peoples' rights.
Source: Noah Wire Services