Session
Organizer 1: Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 1: Santosh Babu Sigdel, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Nighat Dad, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prasanth Sugathan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Shabnam Mojtahedi, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Speaker 2: Nighat Dad, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Prasanth Sugathan, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 4: Shabnam Mojtahedi, Civil Society, Western European and Others Group (WEOG)
Format
Roundtable
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: Why is the session format (room layout and duration) best suited for your activity? A roundtable format is ideal for this session because it fosters open dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and meaningful engagement among participants. Here’s why: 1. Inclusive Participation – Unlike panel discussions, a roundtable allows all attendees, including civil society representatives, policymakers, and experts, to contribute rather than just listen actively. 2. Cross-Regional Learning – Given the diverse experiences in AI governance across regions, a roundtable enables direct exchange of insights, challenges, and best practices among stakeholders. 3. Action-Oriented Discussion – The format encourages interactive brainstorming, helping to identify practical strategies, policy recommendations, and collaboration opportunities to strengthen civil society’s role in AI governance. By creating a more dynamic and participatory environment, a roundtable ensures that voices from civil society are heard and that the discussion leads to concrete, actionable outcomes.
Duration (minutes): 90
Format description: Why is the session format (room layout and duration) best suited for your activity? A roundtable format is ideal for this session because it fosters open dialogue, collaborative problem-solving, and meaningful engagement among participants. Here’s why: 1. Inclusive Participation – Unlike panel discussions, a roundtable allows all attendees, including civil society representatives, policymakers, and experts, to contribute rather than just listen actively. 2. Cross-Regional Learning – Given the diverse experiences in AI governance across regions, a roundtable enables direct exchange of insights, challenges, and best practices among stakeholders. 3. Action-Oriented Discussion – The format encourages interactive brainstorming, helping to identify practical strategies, policy recommendations, and collaboration opportunities to strengthen civil society’s role in AI governance. By creating a more dynamic and participatory environment, a roundtable ensures that voices from civil society are heard and that the discussion leads to concrete, actionable outcomes.
Policy Question(s)
A. How are governments in the Global South developing and regulating AI policies?To what extent have CSOs and the wider public been consulted?
B. What strategies can enhance meaningful public consultation in AI governance to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and protection of human rights?
C. How can civil society overcome structural barriers to effectively participate in AI policymaking and advocate for rights-based governance?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of AI governance in the Global South, focusing on the challenges and opportunities. Through expert discussions, they will explore structural barriers limiting civil society's role in AI policymaking and discover strategies to overcome these challenges. The session will examine best practices for inclusive, transparent, and rights-based AI policies, emphasizing meaningful public consultation. By analyzing regional AI governance frameworks and international standards like the Report of the UN Multi-Stakeholder High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence, UN’s Seizing the Opportunities of Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI and UNESCO’s AI Governance Readiness Assessment, participants will gain a comparative perspective on policy approaches. Additionally, attendees will uncover actionable steps to strengthen civil society’s involvement in AI policymaking, building advocacy networks, and fostering cross-regional collaboration. The session will empower participants to engage effectively in AI governance, advocate for ethical policies, and promote human rights and accountability in AI systems.
SDGs
Description:
Across the Global South—including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh—governments are moving beyond merely developing national AI strategies to actively considering regulatory mechanisms for monitoring and mitigating AI-related risks. Recent developments include Nepal’s Draft AI Policy 2025, India’s AI for India 2030 Initiative, Pakistan’s Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy, Bangladesh’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2024, and Sri Lanka’s National AI Strategy. While these national policies play a crucial role in shaping AI governance, they are often heavily influenced by multilateral institutions and big tech companies, leaving civil society at the margins of policymaking. Despite these structural barriers, civil society actors have managed to create spaces to voice human rights concerns and highlight the disproportionate impact of AI systems on vulnerable communities. This session will bring together experts from the region to share lessons learned, examine the challenges of meaningful public consultation in AI governance, and explore strategies to enhance civil society engagement. Speakers will discuss ways to enhance civil society’s participation in policy discussions, ensuring that AI governance frameworks are inclusive, transparent, and rights-based. Furthermore, the discussion will explore the implementation of international standards and recommendations, including those from the UN Multi-Stakeholder High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and UNESCO’s AI Governance Readiness Assessment. These frameworks offer a comparative perspective on policy approaches and highlight existing gaps in the Global South. By fostering cross-regional learning, this session aims to identify actionable steps for amplifying civil society’s role in shaping AI governance.
Across the Global South—including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh—governments are moving beyond merely developing national AI strategies to actively considering regulatory mechanisms for monitoring and mitigating AI-related risks. Recent developments include Nepal’s Draft AI Policy 2025, India’s AI for India 2030 Initiative, Pakistan’s Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy, Bangladesh’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2024, and Sri Lanka’s National AI Strategy. While these national policies play a crucial role in shaping AI governance, they are often heavily influenced by multilateral institutions and big tech companies, leaving civil society at the margins of policymaking. Despite these structural barriers, civil society actors have managed to create spaces to voice human rights concerns and highlight the disproportionate impact of AI systems on vulnerable communities. This session will bring together experts from the region to share lessons learned, examine the challenges of meaningful public consultation in AI governance, and explore strategies to enhance civil society engagement. Speakers will discuss ways to enhance civil society’s participation in policy discussions, ensuring that AI governance frameworks are inclusive, transparent, and rights-based. Furthermore, the discussion will explore the implementation of international standards and recommendations, including those from the UN Multi-Stakeholder High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and UNESCO’s AI Governance Readiness Assessment. These frameworks offer a comparative perspective on policy approaches and highlight existing gaps in the Global South. By fostering cross-regional learning, this session aims to identify actionable steps for amplifying civil society’s role in shaping AI governance.
Expected Outcomes
- Stronger Civil Society Engagement – Participants will gain practical strategies to overcome structural barriers and enhance their role in AI policymaking.
- Actionable Policy Recommendations – The session will identify concrete steps to improve transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in AI governance.
- Cross-Regional Collaboration – Insights from regional experts will foster knowledge-sharing and partnerships to strengthen AI governance frameworks globally.
Hybrid Format: The roundtable will ensure an equal and interactive discussion by integrating onsite and online participants through a dedicated hybrid facilitation approach. The organizers will share information about the sessions in different forums and encourage online participation. There will be on-site and online moderators coordinating between the online and on-site participants. An online moderator will manage the virtual space, ensuring online attendees can engage in real-time discussions alongside onsite participants. Similarly, it will provide an opportunity for the online participants not only to ask questions but also to share reflections and experiences. Both groups will contribute to live interventions, and an open-floor format will encourage diverse perspectives.