Inclusive and accessible AI on the agenda at the UN COSP18 in June

The side event AI for all – Promoting participation of persons with disabilities through inclusive, fair and accessible artificial intelligence will be held at the 18th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, COSP18 on 11 June at 10 AM (UTC-4) or 18 PM Swedish time. The event will be live streamed from the UN Headquarters in New York.

The concept note and programme for the side event can be downloaded here. The side event is organised by Finland and the Nordic Council of Ministers and co-sponsored by UN Women.

Ministerial declaration on inclusive AI

At the side event, a Nordic and Baltic ministerial declaration will be released. The declaration on promoting participation of persons with disabilities through inclusive, fair and accessible artificial intelligence will be signed by the Nordic Ministers of health and social issues and Nordic and Baltic Ministers of digitalization.

Promising practices on AI and participation of persons with disabilities

A keynote speech will be given by Heba Hagrass, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, and a keynote comment by José Viera, Executive Director, International Disability Alliance.

A panel discussion will highlight promising practices on AI and participation of persons with disabilities. The participants in the discussion represent disability organisations and authorities, and a representative from Microsoft will present how the tech industry works with these issues.

Inclusive and ethical AI solutions needed

For persons with disabilities, AI can be used to improve the possibilities to for exemple participate, live independently, communicate, take part in working life, and pursue education on equal terms with others. But the AI solutions need to be inclusive, ethical and safe. The prerequisite is ensuring protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities, as well as their participation and leadership in the development and use of AI. It is essential to ensure that all persons with disabilities are involved and can benefit from this development.

The obligations of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) provide a human right based approach in protecting and promoting rights of persons with disabilities for the development and use of AI.