UN commissioner calls for human rights-centred digital governance at GANHRI conference

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told the annual conference of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions in Geneva that digital technologies are affecting human rights in areas including conflict, surveillance, online violence, and civic space, while protections have not kept pace.

Türk said ‘while our rights fully apply online, the systems to protect them have yet to keep pace.’ He referred to social media hate speech, surveillance, online violence against women in public life, and the use of digital technologies in conflict.

The speech set out two priorities for national human rights institutions: using digital tools in their own work, and strengthening protection of human rights in digital spaces. Türk said this includes documenting the human rights impact of digital technologies, using existing laws for accountability, and helping shape new legal frameworks.

On AI, Türk said: ‘This evidence should be used to push for accountability under existing laws. It should also inform the development of new legal frameworks, in line with the Global Digital Compact’s vision of inclusive and accountable digital governance, based on human rights.’ He added: ‘This also means advocating for mandatory human rights due diligence in the design, development, and deployment of AI systems.’

Türk also said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is launching the Human Rights Data Exchange, which he described as a way to bring together fragmented data on human rights violations and support earlier and more coordinated action. He also referred to a new Global Alliance for Human Rights (GAHRI), which he said seeks to place human rights at the centre of global debate and decision-making.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech, and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!