Session
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: This format is best suited for this session as it enables bringing together the various stakeholders who have taken part in the elaboration of the Framework Convention for a rich conversation about their experience with the process of elaborating the world’s first international treaty on AI, while allowing for the meaningful interaction with the audience, which will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Full title of the Session: "Elaborating the world’s first international treaty on Artificial Intelligence: experiences from a multistakeholder exercise"
The Session will bring together various stakeholders having participated in the elaboration and negotiation of the Council of Europe Framework on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, for a candid discussion about the process of drafting an international treaty.
Representatives of States and observers from civil society, private business, and academia will take a look back at the work they carried out in the framework of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI), share their takeaways on the exercise, its benefits, challenges, and results: achieving the world’s first global, legally binding instrument on AI.
Emphasis will particularly be laid on the paramount importance of having an inclusive process to address a universal issue: ensuring human rights, democracy and the rule of law are protected and promoted in the digital environment.
The session will be moderated by the Chair of the CAI, Ambassador Thomas Schneider of Switzerland, who led the multistakeholder negotiation of the treaty.
The Session will be organized by the moderator in such a way that speakers will be invited to discuss 3 themes among themselves, and the audience (both online and onsite, including in the chat) will simultaneously be given the opportunity to interact on each theme and join the discuss by asking questions or guiding the conversation.
The session will be promoted on Council of Europe communication channels, as well as within the CAI community in order to broaden the participation to the debate.
Council of Europe
Mr Thomas SCHNEIDER, Ambassador, Vice-Director, Swiss Federal Office of Communication (OFCOM), Chair of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence
Mrs Louise RIONDEL, Co-Secretary to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence
Mr Vadim PAK, Advisor to the Committee on Artificial Intelligence
(in alphabetical order)
Mr Ken KITATANI - Director General, International Council on Environmental Economics and Development (ICEED)
Mr David MARTI - Founder and AI Programme Lead, Pour Demain (NGO)
Ms Eva PIZANO - Deputy to the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the Council of Europe
Ms Nele ROEKENS - Legal Advisor, European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI)
Mr Barry O'BRIEN - Government and Regulatory Affairs Executive, IBM (Industry)
Mr Thomas SCHNEIDER
Mrs Louise RIONDEL
Mrs Louise RIONDEL
3. Good Health and Well-Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Production and Consumption
13. Climate Action
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Targets: Given the high level at which it is operating and its framework character, the Council of Europe Framework on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law addresses many of the SDGs. It notably requires activities within the lifecycle of AI systems to comply with fundamental principles in line with the SDGs.
The session will explore the way the Framework Convention was elaborated in order to complement the already existing international human rights, democracy and rule of law standards and fill-in any legal gaps that may have formed as a result of rapid technological advances in the sphere of human rights law but also with regards to the protection of democracy.
The panelists will exchange about their experience in shaping this groundbreaking instrument and their commitment to continue working for the protection and furtherance of human rights and inclusion in the digital age through the Framework Convention.