Chem. Eugène-Rigot 2D, P4-747 Brunner Library, 7th Floor
in Geneva 1211
Background
The internet, digital platforms, information and communications technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) offer unprecedented pathways to increase women’s participation across all spheres of life, enhance gender disaggregated data collection, advance gender-responsive standards, develop gender-responsive public procurement policies and promote global collaboration in gender equality efforts. Yet, where there is opportunity, there is also risk. While the digital transformation bears vast potential to leapfrog progress towards SDG 5, the digital gender divide, persistent gender stereotypes, the under-representation of women and other marginalised communities in tech and decision making, significant gaps in digital literacy and a rise in technology-facilitated violence also threaten to exacerbate existing inequalities.
At the end of 2023, the International Gender Champions (IGC) Global Board declared “Leveraging digital and new emerging technologies for gender equality” a strategic priority for the network. To accelerate progress towards gender-transformative implementation of digital governance mechanisms, including the Global Digital Compact and the Action Lines of the World Summit on the Information Society, several members of the IGC network established an Impact Group on Digital and New Emerging Technologies in 2024. The group is co-chaired by Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Ms. Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, Co-Founder and CEO, Women at the Table / <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms and Ambassador Simon Manley, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the UN Office and other International Organisations in Geneva.
Capacity-building sessions
To build capacity towards effectively implementing gender-responsive digital governance within institutions and member state delegations charged with negotiating and/or implementing aspects of digital governance, the IGC Secretariat, in partnership with Women at the Table/ <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms, and with support of the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, will offer three working-level training sessions.
Objective
Demonstrate the (positive or negative) social impact of AI, and advocate for an approach to AI development that has gender equality and human rights at its core. The goal is to communicate responsibilities and practices, promoting an approach to the creation of AI systems that centers equality through human rights.
As such, the sessions will:
- Educate on the foundational principles of gender equality in digital governance, applying an intersectional and human-rights approach;
- Raise awareness of the negative impacts of gender-neutral approaches to digital governance;
- Equip participants with the tools to effectively articulate, prioritise, protect and promote human rights and gender equality principles in policies pertaining to digital and new emerging technologies, including AI.
The sessions will be open to the larger IGC community, aiming specifically at Member State representatives and technical negotiators/ experts. To encourage further learning and engagement beyond the training sessions, participants will be granted access to the AI & Equality Toolbox which they can refer to moving forward.
Event details
The IGC Secretariat will offer two different time slots for an introductory foundation module and one in-depth bonus module, building on the foundation session, facilitated by Caitlin Kraft-Buchman.
Foundation module: The Relevance of Human Rights to AI
Offered on both 5 December (register HERE) and 6 December 2024 (register HERE), 09:00-10:30 (CET)
- How AI systems can contradict the core values of human rights
- How threats to human rights and bias enter the AI lifecycle
Bonus module: A Human Rights-Based Approach to AI Development
9 December 2024 (register HERE), 09:00-10:30 (CET)
*DISCLAIMER: Please note that photographs and media footage will be taken throughout this event. Please inform the IGC Secretariat if you have any concerns or if you wish to be exempted from these practices.
Facilitator’s bio
Caitlin Kraft-Buchman is CEO/Founder Women at the Table – a gender equality & systems change CSO based in Switzerland and Co-Founder/Leader <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms – a global multidisciplinary coalition of academics, activists, technologists prototyping the future of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making.
<A+> Alliance is a leader of the UN’s Generation Equality Action Coalition Technology & Innovation for Gender Equality. Caitlin was co-chair of the Expert Group for the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) in 2023 with its first ever priority theme of Technology & Innovation.
Caitlin leads the <AI & Equality> Human Rights Toolbox initiative, an educational platform that supports a global community working for a human rights-based approach to AI - with equity & inclusion at the core of the code.
Women at the Table are a leader of the f<a+i>r feminist AI research Network, with Hubs in Latin America & the Caribbean, Middle East & North Africa, SouthEastAsia, and sister network in Africa, and serves as Civil Society lead for the World Benchmarking Alliance's Collective Impact Coalition for Ethical AI.
Caitlin is co-founder of the International Gender Champions (IGC) - with hubs in Geneva, New York, Vienna, Nairobi, The Hague & Paris bringing together female & male heads of organizations, including the UN Secretary-General, to break down gender barriers; she serves on the IGC Global Board, and co-leads the new IGC Impact Group on Digital and New Emerging Technologies with Doreen Bogdan Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union. Caitlin is a one of the Network of Experts for UN Secretary General’s AI Advisory Body; is Co-Chair of the UN Commission on Science & Technology for Development (CSTD)'s Gender Advisory Board; is a member of UNESCO’s WomenForEthicalAI working group; and member of the Gender Advisory Group for the AI Action Summit to be held by the government of France, February 2025.