NHRC Vice-Chairman Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari. Picture by Rajan Vadakkemuriyil / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: With over 800 participants, the National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) will organise an international conference to explore how AI technologies can be developed and deployed in ways that uphold the rule of law and safeguard human rights.
The conference entitled ‘Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: Opportunities, Risks, and Visions for a Better Future,’ scheduled to take place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha on May 27–28.
The announcement was made in a press conference held yesterday at NHRC headquarters. NHRC Vice-Chairman Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al-Kuwari emphasized the growing importance of raising awareness around cybersecurity to safeguard nations from digital piracy and espionage. Given the cross-border nature of these challenges, he said, international regulation and collaboration with United Nations organizations are essential to address them within a legal framework.
Al-Kuwari also highlighted Qatar’s national AI strategy, which focuses on six key pillars - education, data access, employment, business, research, and ethics—all aimed at guiding the state toward an AI-powered future.
He continued: “The Ministry of Interior has contributed to realizing Qatar National Vision 2030 and maintaining public safety and order by using the latest technologies and AI to enhance security infrastructure and protect human rights.
Al-Kuwari emphasised that the conference will serve as a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, including governments, civil society, academia, private sector actors, national human rights institutions, and international organisations.
He said that it will explore the dual nature of AI as both a tool for progress and a potential challenge to human rights and democracy.
The conference will also feature an exhibition showcasing the transformative impact of AI on humanity’s future.
Al-Kuwari said: “Through panel discussions and working groups, the sessions will examine strategies to ensure AI is developed and deployed in ways that uphold the rule of law, human rights, and democratic governance.”
He explained that the NHRC will organise the event in collaboration with the UNDP, OHCHR, GANHRI, the National Cyber Security Agency, and other key international partners in digital technologies.
Al-Kuwari said that among the expected outcomes of the conference are a call to issue a Doha Declaration on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, raising awareness about AI’s implications for human rights, and strengthening cooperation among stakeholders to ensure the development of ethical AI.
He said the NHRC believes AI will enhance public services, innovation, and economic growth—but it also presents risks such as privacy violations, bias, discrimination, and threats to freedom of expression.
Therefore, Al Kuwari said, the international community must act decisively to harness AI’s potential while minimising its risks by developing frameworks aligned with human rights and democratic values.
He noted that national human rights institutions have a vital role in ensuring AI respects human rights through monitoring, advocacy, capacity building, and collaboration with national, regional, and international organisations. The conference will also feature an exhibition showcasing the transformative impact of AI on humanity’s future.
