The 7th Congress of the Network of Francophone National Human Rights Institutions (December 16-17) kicked off today at the headquarters of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in Rabat, Morocco. This event is set against a global backdrop of rising political tensions, armed conflicts, and rapid digital change, raising critical questions about the protection of human rights.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Amina Bouayach, CNDH Chairperson, reiterated the need to bring fresh momentum into the work of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) within the Network. She emphasized that it is essential to strengthen collective action and unify efforts to enhance states’ advocacy, while ensuring the independence and effectiveness of these institutions, particularly in the context of the financial challenges facing human rights actors,

Ms. Bouayach emphasized that exchanging best practices among NHRIs is key for shaping public policies and guiding national approaches to human rights protection. “These institutions play an instrumental role in translating international human rights standards into concrete policies and practices at the national level,” she highlighted.

The event addresses the intersection of AI and human rights, recognizing this field as both a promising avenue to support the work of NHRIs and an area that raises significant concerns regarding privacy, non-discrimination, the protection of personal data, respect for human dignity, and other fundamental rights.

In this context, Ms. Bouayach underscored that a number of algorithms do not respect fundamental human rights principles, making it essential to remain vigilant, raise awareness, and hold the developers of digital technologies accountable for their human rights impacts.

The CNDH Chairperson further noted that digital transformation requires close communication and coordination among diverse stakeholders (national institutions, civil society, technical experts, and researchers) to ensure a balanced approach to innovation and the protection of rights and freedoms.

It is worth noting that this event is held amid the growing global influence of AI, which transcends national boundaries and directly affects rights and freedoms worldwide. This highlights the urgent need for collective reflection and shared international standards to regulate the use of these technologies in line with human rights principles and to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory practices.

The Congress is expected to result in a practical roadmap to strengthen the operational mechanisms of NHRIs across Francophone countries and enhance their capacity to address digital transformation, particularly by promoting ethical, rights-based uses of artificial intelligence and safeguarding human rights in public digital policies.

Morocco’s hosting of this conference, through its NHRI (CNDH), underscores its steadfast commitment to promoting international cooperation in human rights, fostering dialogue among NHRIs, and contributing to the development of shared strategies to address emerging global challenges.