Qatar: The Doha Declaration on AI and Human Rights
- Ksenia Laputko
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
What fascinates me most about AI governance? The way it brings together people from completely different corners of the world—with different cultures, religions, legal systems, and values—united by one shared understanding: AI offers enormous benefits, but also very real risks. And it needs thoughtful, global regulation.
That’s exactly what happened in Doha, Qatar, on May 27–28, 2025, when over 1,200 global leaders, experts, policymakers, and human rights advocates gathered for the International Conference on “Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights: Opportunities, Risks, and Visions for a Better Future.”
Held at the Ritz-Carlton and organized by Qatar’s National Human Rights Committee in partnership with the UNDP, OHCHR, GANHRI, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the National Cybersecurity Agency, and other international organizations—this wasn’t just another tech summit. It was a milestone in global cooperation.
The result? The Doha Declaration on AI and Human Rights—a statement that reminds us technology should never outpace our ethics. If you're involved in AI policy, law, or digital governance, this is one event and declaration you’ll want to take a closer look at.
Just finished reviewing the Doha Declaration on AI and Human Rights, and here are my quick takeaways:
In general, it aligns closely with other major declarations and principles we’ve seen recently—emphasizing responsible AI, human rights due diligence, and the importance of transparency. It’s structured around recommendations for governments, the UN, civil society, and organizations developing or using AI systems.
Some key points that stood out:
Strong push for human rights impact assessments—not just for companies, but also for human rights observers.
Clear backing for data protection, explainability, and trustworthy AI.
And, of course, a reminder that ethics must be built into design, not added as an afterthought.
While not revolutionary, it’s a useful consolidation of international expectations, especially in light of how quickly AI adoption is expanding across sectors and borders.
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