In line with its mandate to promote and protect the rights guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Charter), and in recognition of the potential human rights implications of AI and other new and emerging technologies, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission), at its 31st Extraordinary Session held virtually from 19 to 25 February 2021, adopted Resolution 473 (EXT.OS/XXXI) 2021 commiting to undertake a Study on the Impact of AI, Robotics and Other New and Emerging Technologies on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa.
Resolution 473 (EXT.OS/ XXXI) 2021 was premised on the need to address the increasingly significant impact of AI, robotics, and other emerging technologies on human rights across the continent. These technologies, while offering benefits for development, also pose serious risks to privacy, equality, economic and social rights, and freedom of expression, particularly in the absence of meaningful human control, inclusive governance frameworks, and ethical safeguards. The Resolution also emphasized the urgency of framing the development and deployment of such technologies within the context of African values, ethics, and human dignity.
Pursuant to the foregoing, the African Commission, through the leadership of its Focal Point Hon. Commissioner Solomon Ayele Dersso, along with Hon. Commissioner Geereesha Ourveena Topsy-Sonoo convened an Inception Workshop and Experts’ Consultation from 8 to 9 June 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, with the technical support of the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria to conceptualise the study and frame its scope and methodology. Following which an initial draft was prepared. This draft was scrutinized and reviewed at an Experts’ Validation Meeting convened from 2 to 4 May 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. The resultant draft was once again revisited in the Stakeholders’ Consultation Meeting held from 30 September to 1 October 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda, involving stakeholders from academia, civil society, government, and industry.
Following these engagements the African Commission now invites all stakeholders to submit comments and inputs on the Draft Study on Human and Peoples’ Rights and AI, Robotics, and Other New and Emerging Technologies in Africa, which will be made publicly available at the link below:
Stakeholders are thus invited to send comments and input by the 8th May 2025 via email to au-banjul@africa-union.org and mayota@africa-union.org , or via courier to the following address:
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, Western Region
P.O. Box 673 Banjul
The Gambia
