UNESCO Champions Rights-Based AI to Advance Gender Equality in Africa's Judiciaries

UNESCO also showcased practical tools to help courts navigate this new frontier, including its Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals and the new AI, Justice and the Rule of Law online course, developed with the University of Oxford. The course includes a dedicated module on AI and Women's Rights, equipping judges with the knowledge to identify algorithmic bias, assess AI-generated evidence and apply human rights principles in judicial decision-making. Through its Global Judges Initiative, UNESCO has already trained more than 38,000 judicial operators in over 160 countries, strengthening judicial capacity to govern AI responsibly.

A landmark outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the Johannesburg Declaration, which commits African judiciaries to ensuring strong human oversight, transparency and accountability in AI systems while promoting judicial education, digital literacy and survivor-centered digital justice tools. It also calls for AI to advance not undermine the rights, safety and equality of women.

Beyond artificial intelligence, the Declaration reaffirmed a collective commitment to strengthening gender-responsive jurisprudence by advancing women's leadership in the judiciary, improving protection against violence, promoting women's economic empowerment and deepening implementation of the Maputo Protocol through greater regional collaboration.

By bringing together judicial leaders, international experts and development partners, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting African judiciaries in building AI-ready justice systems that uphold human dignity, protect women's rights and strengthen the rule of law.

As Africa embraces the opportunities of the digital age, the message from Johannesburg was clear: innovation must serve justice, and justice must always serve humanity.