These dangers are significantly acute this 12 months, as greater than 50 nations – half the world’s inhabitants – maintain elections.
In his message on the Worldwide Day of Democracy on Sunday, Secretary-Normal António Guterres reiterated the significance of upholding freedom of expression, civil liberties and the rule of regulation, in addition to making certain accountable establishments and defending human rights.
“Nonetheless, These rights and values are below assault around the globe. Freedom is being eroded. Civic house is shrinking. Polarization is growing. Mistrust is rising,” he mentioned.
Instruments for good governance
Regardless of the hazards, AI has the potential to play a optimistic function in strengthening democratic establishments, he continued, noting that AI can promote full and energetic public participation, improve equality and contribute to human growth.
“Synthetic intelligence can facilitate schooling about democratic processes and form extra inclusive civic areas Individuals have a say in choices and may maintain resolution makers accountable”, Mr. Guterres mentioned.
By leveraging synthetic intelligence for good governance, nations can create extra clear and accountable techniques that enable residents to take part extra successfully. Nonetheless, this requires efficient governance of AI in any respect ranges, together with on the worldwide stage.
Promote accountable use of synthetic intelligence
Mr. Guterres additionally highlighted the latest report of the United Nations Excessive-Degree Advisory Physique on Synthetic Intelligence, which gives suggestions on the right way to harness the advantages of AI and scale back its dangers.
“The message is evident: Synthetic intelligence should serve humanity pretty and safelyHe emphasised that the upcoming future summit will turn out to be an vital platform for nations to debate strengthening worldwide cooperation in synthetic intelligence.
“On this Worldwide Day of Democracy, allow us to proceed our efforts to construct a extra inclusive, simply and equal world.”
Girls’s political participation is essential
Additionally it is vital to handle one other elementary side of democracy: ladies’s equal political participation, as highlighted by UN Girls, the lead company for gender equality.
“Their inclusion is a matter of justice and a key consider creating more practical governance,” the company mentioned, noting that ladies’s illustration is essential to advancing points resembling well being, schooling and gender-based violence.
Regardless of this, ladies stay underrepresented in international decision-making.
Solely 27 nations are led by ladies – up from 18 a decade in the past – whereas globally, ladies maintain simply 23% of cupboard positions and solely 15 nations have achieved gender parity in cupboards.
UN Information/Vibhu Mishra
Girls voters wait to forged their votes in federal and provincial elections at a polling station in Nepal’s Bhaktapur district. (doc)
Challenges to illustration
Dangerous social norms and gender-based violence proceed to impede ladies’s political rights, and stereotypes within the media typically undermine their management skills. As well as, the specter of on-line violence in opposition to ladies in politics and public life is rising and could also be exacerbated by synthetic intelligence know-how.
To handle these urgent points, UN Girls urges governments to take proactive steps to shut the gender hole in political participation.
This consists of imposing gender quotas, combating violence in opposition to ladies in politics, making certain equal remedy of feminine voters and candidates, investing in capacity-building for feminine candidates, and selling truthful and clear media protection of girls’s political roles.
worldwide day
Commemorated yearly on 15 September, the Worldwide Day of Democracy gives a chance to evaluate the state of democracy on this planet. This 12 months’s focus is on the function of synthetic intelligence (AI) as a software for good governance.
Established by the United Nations Normal Meeting in 2007, it reaffirms that democracy is a common worth based mostly on the freely expressed will of the individuals to find out their very own political, financial, social and cultural techniques and to take part totally in all elements of life.
The Meeting additionally inspired governments to strengthen nationwide packages devoted to selling and consolidating democracy, together with by means of enhanced bilateral, regional and worldwide cooperation.
