From 19 to 25 February 2021, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) held a meeting to discuss the need to undertake a study on human and peoples’ rights and Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics and other new and emerging technologies in Africa, as stated in Resolution 473.

Recognising that these technologies present both opportunities and perils for the promotion and protection of human and people’s rights in Africa, the ACHPR intends to undertake a study in order to further develop guidelines and norms that address issues relating to AI technologies, robotics, and other new and emerging technologies, and their impact on human rights in Africa. To do that, the ACHPR intends to work together with an African Group of Experts on AI and new technologies.

Considering the above context, the Centre for Human Rights is the technical support institution to the ACHPR as it undertakes the study. The work commenced in August 2022 and entailed drafting the study, validating, adopting and launching by the ACHPR.

Artificial Intelligence Study Project