HRC 59: SRI Statement to the Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Transnational Corporations

59th session of the Human Rights Council

Item 3: Interactive dialogue with the Working Group on Transnational Corporations

Statement by Akãhatã

Thursday 19 June

Thank you, President.

Akãhatã makes this statement on behalf of the Sexual Rights Initiative. Like the Working Group and other Special Procedures,[2] we are concerned that AI exacerbates existing inequalities relating to race, gender, class, and disability, as well as violations against human rights defenders in a context of authoritarian tendencies and democratic erosion. We consider it essential to delve deeper into the analysis of its impact on economic and social rights, especially in the Global South and for women and systematically excluded groups.

In this regard, the report exposes that unequal power relations between the States of the Global North and the Global South lead to the latter being more vulnerable to risks such as job displacement, political instability, and increased economic inequality. For this reason, technological sovereignty and international collaboration are essential. Transnational corporations must use open technologies and open source in the development of AI to ensure equal access to knowledge and distribution of technologies, but also to ensure open oversight of how the technology works and its potential biases.

States and multilateral organizations must adopt new or adapted instruments and develop enforcement mechanisms that guarantee transparency, civil society participation, and accountability in the use of AI to protect human rights across their entire spectrum.

Thank you.