The 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

9 September – 11 October 2024

Item 9: Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on People of African Descent

3 October 2024

Statement of the International Organisation for Eliminating all Forms of Racial Discrimination and Geneva International Centre for Justice

Delivered by Marisa Were

Thank you, Madame Vice-President,

We thank the Working Group for their report and commend them for addressing the challenges of AI, in particular, its potential to perpetuate existing racial discrimination in education.

AI is designed to be neutral and objective, however, this is not the case because the data used to train it underrepresents marginalised communities. This issue is further intensified by the widening Black-White technological divide, which is reminiscent of the early literacy gap, leaving people of African descent behind.

Education is the foundation for employment, a crucial pathway to economic empowerment. Therefore, when shaping AI policies, it is crucial to start at the grassroots level by focusing on digital literacy. This foundational step will enable equitable participation in the evolving job market and reduce poverty inequalities.

In this regard, EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice call on States to prioritise the inclusion of people of African descent, in the development and consideration of digital human rights. With the rapid advancement of digital technologies, States should ensure the participation of all marginalised communities to prevent widening inequalities in education.

While technology contributes to solving complex societal issues, it often, intentionally or unintentionally, reinforces systemic barriers for people of African descent. We cannot allow our progress in social justice to be undermined by digital exclusion.

Thank you.

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