United Nations, March 12. Expanding the use of digital tools across humanity helps promote human rights because improving the lives of all people is essential for realizing its potential, according to India.
"In India, we have used digital tools to expand access to rights for everyone, on a large scale," said Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India's Ministry of External Affairs, speaking to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday (local time).
"This has also facilitated access to justice, civil and political rights, and democratic participation for 1.4 billion Indians, as well as empowering our women," he said.
The AI Impact Summit in Delhi last month, which saw participation from more than 100 countries, endorsed the idea of universally sharing the power of AI, he said.
The summit, organized by India along with France, was attended by 20 heads of state or government and approximately 45 ministers.
"The summit acknowledged that the power of AI is best realized when its benefits are shared equitably by humanity, including the participation of the Global South," George said.
George recalled External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar's call to the Council to move beyond statements and resolutions to tangible improvements in the daily lives of the most vulnerable.
"We firmly believe that a holistic and balanced approach to all human rights, anchored in an integrated development paradigm, is the most effective pathway to achieving this," George said, citing India's digital program as one of its pillars.
He reminded the Council about the serious threat of terrorism to human rights and called for united action against it.
"Terrorism remains one of the gravest threats to human rights," he said.
"We must remain steadfast in our resolve to counter it in all its forms and manifestations," he said. "This Council should continue to speak with one voice on this issue".
