On 22 May 2024, the Ombudsman's representative, Jerneja Turin, who chairs the working group for the rights of persons with disabilities within the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), organised a webinar for members of the working group and other interested representatives of national human rights institutions on artificial intelligence and its impact on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The aim of the webinar was to enable participants to understand how advances in artificial intelligence technology can impact the rights of persons with disabilities. With the help of expert presentations and an open discussion, the participants examined the potential challenges, risks, and opportunities related to the implementation of artificial intelligence in the context of the rights of persons with disabilities and the possible role of national human rights institutions in dealing with related risks and challenges. Read more about it here.

Participating in the capacity of experts in the webinar were Nele Roekens, Chair of the ENNHRI Working Group on Artificial Intelligence, Legal Advisor and Project Manager on Artificial Intelligence at UNIA, Independent Expert of the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on Artificial Intelligence, Equality and Discrimination, Kave Noori, Expert on Artificial Intelligence Policy at the European Disability Forum and Yonah Welker, public technologist, European Commission project evaluator, and author of the LinkedIn training course "AI Ethics: Yonah.org”.

Artificial intelligence has great potential to positively impact the lives of persons with disabilities by addressing various challenges and innovative solutions. It can improve accessibility, [FT1] promote independent living, and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Although it offers opportunities to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, artificial intelligence is also associated with significant risks for them.

National human rights institutions can play an important role in ensuring that digital technologies enhance and do not threaten human rights. Based on their powers, they can take different approaches to address the human rights impacts of artificial intelligence. This includes handling complaints or initiatives, educating and raising awareness about its consequences for human rights, conducting investigations, and advising on legislative and other processes at the national and regional levels.

The webinar was organised as one of the steps towards building knowledge and planning the future work of state institutions in the field of the impact of artificial intelligence on the rights of persons with disabilities. It was attended by more than 50 representatives of national human rights institutions and equality bodies, including representatives of the Ombudsman and the Advocate of the Principle of Equality.

 [FT1]»dostopnost« repeated in the Slovene text