KADEM leads global discussion on AI, women’s rights in Istanbul
The sixth Worldwide Girls and Justice Summit, organized by the Girls and Democracy Affiliation (KADEM), introduced collectively international leaders, policymakers, and consultants to debate the intersection of synthetic intelligence (AI) and gender justice. Below the theme “Synthetic Intelligence and Girls,” the summit examined AI’s potential to boost ladies’s well-being and alternatives, whereas additionally addressing the challenges that come up from gender biases embedded in expertise. The occasion continued for 2 days, on Nov. 8-9, at Haliç College in Istanbul.
The opening ceremony on Nov. 8 noticed the attendance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, first girl Emine Erdoğan, Household and Social Affairs Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, together with numerous state officers. Native and worldwide audio system, together with consultants, lecturers and researchers, gathered to debate the affect of synthetic intelligence on ladies’s future.
In his opening speech, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reaffirmed his authorities’s dedication to ending discrimination in opposition to ladies and selling equal alternatives. He emphasised the significance of addressing the affect of digitalization and synthetic intelligence on social justice, significantly for ladies. Erdoğan mirrored on Türkiye’s progress over the previous 20 years, highlighting key achievements in social equality, and particularly famous the top of discrimination based mostly on whether or not ladies wore headscarves.
“Prior to now, whether or not or not a girl wore a headband was a cause for division and restriction. Immediately, nevertheless, Türkiye has grow to be a rustic the place everybody has the liberty to specific themselves,” he acknowledged.
Erdoğan additionally voiced issues concerning the rising affect of synthetic intelligence, warning that AI may amplify present biases, particularly in opposition to ladies. “Synthetic intelligence techniques, that are nonetheless removed from being impartial, sadly, amplify present biases, particularly in opposition to ladies. That is one thing we should handle, as we will’t permit AI to perpetuate discrimination,” he stated.
He referred to as for common regulatory frameworks to stop digital techniques from reinforcing injustices, advocating for inclusive AI algorithms that will profit all teams. “We should set up international requirements that guarantee AI doesn’t exclude sure teams and that it may be utilized in a method that advantages all of humanity, with out discrimination,” he urged.
Emine Erdoğan attended the reception for the summit, on the night of the occasion. She warmly welcomed all of the visitors and expressed her gratitude to the organizers, thanking them for bringing collectively such a significant gathering.
In her speech, she emphasised, “Girls aren’t simply half of a gender, however half of humanity. Simply as a fowl can’t fly with one wing, a system that pushes ladies to the background can’t operate correctly.” She additionally praised KADEM’s method of addressing ladies’s points by the framework of justice, stressing that “justice is the muse of peace, concord and civilization.”
She additionally highlighted the function of girls in science and expertise, significantly in AI, stressing, “Know-how, except mixed with justice, can’t supply a vibrant future for humanity.” The primary girl additionally emphasised the significance of girls being totally represented within the AI subject, which is essential for making certain that expertise is used ethically. She concluded by saying, “It’s our accountability to make use of the expertise we develop for a simply and noble function.”
The second day of the occasion, held on Nov. 9, continued with insightful panels and discussions on the intersection of AI and gender justice. World leaders and consultants gathered to discover AI’s potential to drive optimistic change for ladies whereas addressing the challenges posed by gender biases in rising applied sciences.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, Georgia’s minister for internally displaced individuals, labor, well being and social affairs, was among the many distinguished audio system on the panel on “Democratic Advocacy and Rights-Based mostly Activism.” He pressured the necessity to guarantee AI is developed ethically to keep away from reinforcing gender biases. “AI is usually a power for good, however we should be sure that it doesn’t perpetuate gender stereotypes or inequalities,” Sarjveladze defined. He referred to as for a balanced method to AI applied sciences that promotes equity and inclusion in all sectors.
Fatmir Limani, minister of social coverage from North Macedonia, participated in the identical panel and highlighted the essential situation of entry to justice, emphasizing that ladies and ladies will need to have equal rights to truthful authorized proceedings. “Entry to justice is a elementary human proper,” Limani stated. “We have to handle cultural and judicial boundaries that stop ladies from totally collaborating in authorized techniques.”
Egyptian Minister Maya Morsy took the stage to debate the significance of integrating ladies into decision-making processes, particularly within the context of AI growth. “Our language, our lives and our insurance policies should replicate the realities of girls,” Morsy acknowledged. She additionally famous that Egypt is without doubt one of the few nations within the Arab area to implement AI-supported legal guidelines addressing violence in opposition to ladies.
Maimouna Dieye, minister of household and solidarity in Senegal, shared insights on how AI can create new alternatives for ladies in fields like information science, AI engineering and well being care. She underscored the significance of offering inclusive schooling to assist ladies purchase the required abilities for the digital financial system. “AI is creating new job alternatives, however we should be sure that ladies aren’t left behind,” Dieye stated.
Tatjana Macura, Serbia’s minister of gender equality and prevention of violence in opposition to ladies, mentioned the dangers AI poses in reinforcing gender biases, significantly in medical fields. “When AI is utilized in medical analysis, it typically favors male signs, neglecting the distinctive well being issues of girls,” Macura defined. She emphasised the necessity for AI techniques to be designed with gender sensitivity to keep away from additional marginalizing ladies.
The panel discussions additionally make clear the significance of accelerating feminine illustration in AI and expertise fields. With solely 22% of execs in AI being ladies, a lot of whom maintain lower-level positions, Sümeyye Erdoğan Bayraktar, chair of KADEM’s Board of Trustees, referred to as for extra motion to encourage ladies’s participation in these fields. “We have to work towards creating extra alternatives for ladies in AI,” she stated, stressing that higher variety within the tech sector is essential for fostering innovation and equity.
A particular give attention to the genocide in Gaza was held through the summit. As President Erdoğan talked about in his opening speech, this focus was a key a part of the summit’s theme. He condemned the assaults in Gaza as systematic violence in opposition to ladies and kids and reaffirmed Türkiye’s dedication to supporting Palestinian civilians.
According to this, the “media zone” at Haliç College’s occasion space hosted discussions on “AI-Supported Genocide: Gaza,” that includes visitors like legislation professor and activist Khaled A. Beydoun, and documentary photographer Belal Khaled. The periods explored the function of synthetic intelligence in each exacerbating and addressing such humanitarian crises.
