Panel on AI & Gender: A Human Rights Toolbox Approach

Panelists:

Title:  AI & Gender: A Human Rights Toolbox Approach

 

Host: Elisa Celis

 

Abstract:  In this crucial moment when AI is transforming the fabric of our society — potentially the greatest global paradigm shift yet — it is crystal clear that the design and deployment of Artificial Intelligence must be grounded in human rights. Similarly, gender equality — the very heart of human rights — must be included in Artificial Intelligence design and deployment. How can a human rights based approach be applied to computer science, engineering and innovation? It is urgent that computer scientists, engineers and policy makers understand the nature of bias, its technical roots, its social impact, and have practical frameworks to think about solutions. It is equally important that scientists as well as policy makers and citizens feel empowered to act upon their desires for a just and inclusive technology. Our three speakers work in multilateral environments: the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Working Group on the Guiding Principles to Business and Human Rights, and the activist <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms. They will discuss the growing movement to apply a human-rights based approach — grounded in human rights concepts and settled international law — to AI as opposed to à la carte Tech Ethics, and discuss an integration of a gender perspective into the everyday work of AI design and deployment. This conversation is particularly urgent given the scale at which Automated Decision-Making (ADM) systems and machine learning are being deployed.

 

Biographies:

Surya Deva is an Associate Professor at the School of Law of City University of Hong Kong, and a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Prof Deva’s primary research interests lie in Business and Human Rights, India-China Constitutional Law, and Sustainable Development. He has published extensively in these areas, and has advised the UN bodies, governments, multinational corporations and civil society organizations on matters related to business and human rights. He is one of the founding Editors-in-Chief of the Business and Human Rights Journal. Prof Deva drafted the report on gender dimensions of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

 

Asako Hattori is Human Rights Officer at the Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights Office– – OHCHR). At the UN Human Rights Office, she also works on economic, social and cultural rights, land and human rights, gender stereotyping, digital technologies and women’s rights.

 

Caitlin Kraft-Buchman is CEO/Founder of Women at the Table, a growing global CSO based in Geneva, Switzerland – and the first organization to focus on systems change by helping feminists gain influence in sectors that have key structural impact: economy, sustainability, democracy and governance, and technology.

 

A serial coalition builder focused on impact, she is founder of International Gender Champions (IGC) with hubs in Geneva, New York, Vienna, Nairobi, The Hague, and Paris, with 300+ Champion heads of organizations including the UN Secretary General, heads of UN-Habitat, UNHCR, ICRC, WTO, ILO, WHO, WIPO, ISO, Ambassadors, and Civil Society. She is responsible for IGC’s Trade Impact Group (Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade + Women’s Economic Empowerment, 2017); Disarmament Impact Group (nominated Arms Control Person/s of the Year, 2018); Standards Impact Group (Gender Responsive Standards Declaration, 2019).

 

Caitlin founded and co-leads the new <A+> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms with Ciudadania Inteligente, a global coalition focused on affirmative action for algorithms, so that machine learning does not embed an already biased system into our future. <A+> is one of the leaders of the UN Women Generation Equality Action Coalition for Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality.

 

Zoom: https://yale.zoom.us/j/99259504681