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[Insert statement of urgency and significance for why this right relates to AI.]

Sectors #

The contributors of the AI & Human Rights Index have identified the following sectors as responsible for both using AI to protect and advance this human right.

• ART: Arts and Culture
• BUS: Business
• COM: Media and Communication
• DEF: Defense and Military
• EDU: Education and Research
• ENV: Environmental and Energy
• FIN: Financial Services
• GOV: Government and Public Sector
• HLTH: Healthcare and Public Health
• INTL: International Organizations and Relations
• LAW: Legal and Law Enforcement
• REG: Regulatory and Oversight Bodies
• SOC: Social Services and Housing
• TECH: Technology
• TRAN: Transportation and Infrastructure
• WORK: Employment and Labor

AI’s Potential Violations #

[Insert 300- to 500-word analysis of how AI could violate this human right.]

AI’s Potential Benefits #

[Insert 300- to 500-word analysis of how AI could advance this human right.]

Human Rights Instruments #

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) #

G.A. Res. 217 (III) A, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, U.N. Doc. A/RES/217(III) (Dec. 10, 1948)

Article 22

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social Security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his Dignity and the free development of his personality.

Article 25

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to Security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his Control.

2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) #

G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171 (Dec. 16, 1966)

Article 6

1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.

2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final judgement rendered by a competent court.

3. When deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it is understood that nothing in this article shall authorize any State Party to the present Covenant to derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under the provisions of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

4. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be granted in all cases.

5. Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below eighteen years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women.

6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital punishment by any State Party to the present Covenant.

Article 7

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free Consent to medical or scientific experimentation.

Article 9

1. Everyone has the right to liberty and Security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.

2. Anyone who is arrested shall be informed, at the time of arrest, of the reasons for his arrest and shall be promptly informed of any charges against him.

3. Anyone arrested or detained on a criminal charge shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorized by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release. It shall not be the general rule that persons awaiting trial shall be detained in custody, but release may be subject to guarantees to appear for trial, at any other stage of the judicial proceedings, and, should occasion arise, for execution of the judgement.

4. Anyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his detention and order his release if the detention is not lawful.

5. Anyone who has been the victim of unlawful arrest or detention shall have an enforceable right to compensation.

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966) #

G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 993 U.N.T.S. 3 (Dec. 16, 1966)

Article 9

The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to social Security, including social insurance.

Article 11

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions. The States Parties will take appropriate steps to ensure the realization of this right, recognizing to this effect the essential importance of international co-operation based on free Consent.

2. The States Parties to the present Covenant, recognizing the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger, shall take, individually and through international co-operation, the measures, including specific programmes, which are needed:

(a) To improve methods of production, conservation and distribution of food by making full use of technical and scientific knowledge, by disseminating knowledge of the principles of nutrition and by developing or reforming agrarian systems in such a way as to achieve the most efficient development and utilization of natural resources;

(b) Taking into account the problems of both food-importing and food-exporting countries, to ensure an equitable distribution of world food supplies in relation to need.

Article 12

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

2. The steps to be taken by the States Parties to the present Covenant to achieve the full realization of this right shall include those necessary for:

(a) The provision for the reduction of the stillbirth-rate and of infant mortality and for the healthy development of the child;

(b) The improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene;

(c) The prevention, treatment and Control of epidemic, endemic, occupational and other diseases;

(d) The creation of conditions which would assure to all medical service and medical attention in the event of sickness.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) #

G.A. Res. 34/180, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, U.N. Doc. A/RES/34/180 (Dec. 18, 1979)

Article 11 (1E)

The right to social Security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and other incapacity to work…

Article 22

The specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their activities. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities.

Article 25

4. The present Convention shall be open to accession by all States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

1. The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States.

2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated as the depositary of the present Convention.

3. The present Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

United Nations Principles for Older Persons (1991) #

G.A. Res. 46/91, United Nations Principles for Older Persons, U.N. Doc. A/RES/46/91 (Dec. 16, 1991).

Principle 7

Older persons should remain integrated in society, participate actively in the formulation and implementation of policies that directly affect their well-being and share their knowledge and skills with younger generations.

Principle 17

Older persons should be able to live in Dignity and Security and be free of exploitation and physical or mental abuse

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000) #

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2012 O.J. (C 326) 391.

Article 25

The Union recognizes and respects the rights of the elderly to lead a life of Dignity and independence and to participate in social and cultural life.

Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (2002) #

Political Declaration and Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, U.N. Doc. A/CONF.197/9 (Apr. 12, 2002).

Paragraph 38

Older persons facing technological change without education or training can experience alienation… Measures that enable older persons to have access to, take part in and adjust to technological changes should therefore be taken.

ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (2012) #

ASEAN Human Rights Declaration (AHRD) (Nov. 18, 2012).

Article 4

The rights of women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, and vulnerable and marginalized groups are an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons (2015) #

Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons, June 15, 2015, O.A.S.T.S. No. 91.

Article 5

This Convention prohibits discrimination based on the age of older persons.

Article 11

Older persons have the inalienable right to express their free and informed Consent on health matters. Denial of that right constitutes a form of violation of the human rights of older persons.

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa (2016) #

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa, adopted Jan. 31, 2016.

Article 8

Older persons have the right to be protected from abuse and harmful practices.