Member states converged to discuss the impact of digital transformation and recognized the potential of innovation in peace-building, all while stressing the importance of tackling associated challenges and risks.
Member states converged to discuss the impact of digital transformation and recognized the potential of innovation in peace-building, all while stressing the importance of tackling associated challenges and risks.
The annual UN High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace, with the theme “Promoting Culture of Peace in the Digital Era,” became the avenue for member states and other stakeholders to discuss the impact of digital transformation, as well as the latest strategies for using digital tools to promote peace.
In the opening segment, Guy Ryder, UN undersecretary general for policy, recognized the potential of digital innovation while stressing the importance of tackling associated challenges and risks.
He outlined essential measures to cultivate a culture of peace in the digital age, including the promotion of digital literacy, countering hate speech, and ensuring the ethical use of artificial intelligence.
Ryder acknowledged the increasing significance of AI and automation, highlighting the ongoing work of the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and the development of a United Nations Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms.
He called for the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies, building on the efforts made within the UN system, including the contributions of UNESCO and the ITU.
Csaba Kőrösi, president of the 77th session of the General Assembly, led the inaugural session of the forum, highlighting the need for an inclusive digital environment that promotes respect and tolerance. This involves addressing online hate speech, discrimination, and the potential misuse of emerging technologies as risks.
The president also said that effective collaboration among nations is essential to cultivating a culture of peace in the digital era.
Eliot Minchenberg, UNESCO representative to the United Nations in New York, highlighted the pivotal role of education and digital technology in establishing enduring peace. He recognized that in the digital era, while there are opportunities for learning, there are also substantial risks like misinformation and hate speech.
Minchenberg also believes in providing students with a solid understanding of the capabilities and drawbacks of digital tech, enabling them to navigate these tools effectively.
UNESCO has also been actively working on the revision of the 1974 Recommendation regarding Education for international understanding, cooperation, and peace, as well as education concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms.
This recommendation is a significant international instrument that outlines the role of education in peacebuilding and emphasizes the necessary competencies in the digital era.
Highlighting the risks associated with the unchecked proliferation of AI systems, Minchenberg emphasized the importance of regulating and guiding these technological advancements. He said UNESCO is at the forefront of global efforts to establish ethical standards for emerging technologies.
After an extensive two-year global consultation process, the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was adopted by all 193 UNESCO Member States in 2021.
This instrument offers actionable guidance across 11 policy areas to facilitate the ethical integration of AI into societies, in alignment with universal human values and principles.
