A Side Event on the Rights of Women and Girls in the Context of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies Held on the Margins of the 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council

On 22 June, on the margins of the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hasmik Tolmajian, participated in and delivered opening remarks at the panel discussion entitled "From Rights to Architecture: Women, Girls, and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence."

Organized in partnership with the United Nations Working Group on discrimination against women and girls and co-sponsored by Armenia, Chile, Costa Rica, Estonia, France, Japan, Mexico and the Republic of Korea, as well as "Women at the Table" and "Plan International" organizations, the event brought together representatives of Member States, UN entities, civil society, academia, youth and the technology community to discuss the human rights implications of artificial intelligence and related digital technologies for women and girls.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Tolmajian emphasized that questions of technology governance are increasingly also questions of human rights and gender equality, highlighting the need to address the gender-specific implications of artificial intelligence and digital technologies. Referring to Armenia's national experience, she highlighted ongoing efforts to increase the participation of women and girls in science, technology and innovation and welcomed the continued cooperation with the Working Group, including through its recent country visit to Armenia earlier this year.

The Ambassador also recalled Armenia's efforts, together with a cross-regional core group of States, to advance discussions within the Human Rights Council on the rights of women and girls in the context of digital technologies, including through the first-ever joint statement on this topic, which was joined by 70 States from all regions. She further underscored the importance of strengthening international cooperation and advancing the Council's engagement on this issue.

The discussion focused on the forthcoming report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls entitled "Women's and Girls' Rights and Artificial Intelligence and Related Digital Technologies," which will be presented during the current session of the Human Rights Council. The panel featured Ambassador Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ms. Claudia Flores, Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, as well as representatives of youth and civil society.