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• Introduction

4
  • §1. AI & Human Rights
  • §2. Right to Human Rights
  • §3. Generations of Human Rights
  • §4. Right to International Cooperation

I. Dignity

1
  • I.A. Right to Dignity and Worth of the Human Person

II. Rights of Vulnerable Populations

11
  • II.A. Rights of Children
  • II.B. Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • II.C. Rights of LGBT+ People
  • II.D. Rights of Migrant Workers
  • II.E. Rights of Older Persons
  • II.F. Rights of People Experiencing Poverty
  • II.G. Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • II.H. Rights of Racial and Ethnic Minorities
  • II.I. Rights of Refugees
  • II.J. Rights of Religious Minorities
  • II.K. Rights of Women

III. Peace

6
  • III.A. Right to Peace
  • III.B. Recognition as a Person Before the Law
  • III.C. Freedom from Slavery and Servitude
  • III.D. Freedom from Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment
  • III.E. Right to Prevention of and Protection from Genocide
  • III.F. Right to Security of Person and Protection by the State

IV. Justice

10
  • IV.A. Right to Life, Liberty, and Personal Security
  • IV.B. Right to Legal Recognition
  • IV.C. Right to Equality before the Law
  • IV.D. Right to a Fair Trial and Due Process
  • IV.E. Right to Presumption of Innocence until Proven Guilty
  • IV.F. Right to Justice and Accountability
  • IV.G. Right to Truth, Redress, and Information
  • IV.H. Right to Protection from Persecution
  • IV.I. Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination
  • IV.J. Right to Remedy

IX. Civic Engagement

5
  • IX.A. Freedom of Assembly and Association
  • IX.B. Right to Free Elections
  • IX.C. Right to Participation in Public and Political Life
  • IX.D. Right to Participate in Cultural Life, Arts, and Science
  • IX.E. Right to Personal Mobility

UN General Assembly

1
  • UN General Assembly

V. Privacy

6
  • V.A. Right to Data Protection and Freedom from Surveillance
  • V.B. Right to Control over Personal Data and Data Sovereignty
  • V.C. Right to Intellectual Property and Protection of Personal Creations
  • V.D. Right to Mental and Biological Privacy
  • V.E. Right to Informed Consent in Data Collection and AI Interactions
  • V.F. Right to Protection from AI Manipulation and Misinformation

VI. Movement

3
  • VI.A. Freedom of Movement and Residence
  • VI.B. Right to Seek Asylum from Persecution
  • VI.C. Right to a Nationality

VII. Family

5
  • VII.A. Right to Marry
  • VII.B. Right to Form a Family
  • VII.C. Right to Family Benefits
  • VII.D. Right to Family Unity
  • VII.E. Right to Own Property

VIII. Human Agency & Expression

6
  • VIII.A. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion
  • VIII.B. Right to Language
  • VIII.C. Freedom of Opinion and Expression
  • VIII.D. Right to Self-Determination
  • VIII.E. Right to Live Independently and in Community
  • VIII.F. Right to Digital Identity

X. Education

5
  • X.A. Right to Education
  • X.B. Right to Higher Education
  • X.C. Right to Non-Discrimination in Education
  • X.D. Right to Cultural and Linguistic Education
  • X.E. Right to Education in Emergencies

XI. Work

13
  • XI.A. Right to Work
  • XI.B. Equal Opportunities and Treatment
  • XI.C. Right to Remuneration
  • XI.D. Right to Form and Join Trade Unions
  • XI.E. Right to Rest and Leisure
  • XI.F. Right to Protection against Unemployment
  • XI.G. Right to Retraining and Skill Development in Response to Technological Change
  • XI.H. Right to a Standard of Living Adequate for Health and Well-being
  • XI.I. Right to Food, Clothing, and Housing
  • XI.J. Right to Social Security
  • XI.K. Right to Development
  • XI.L. Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights
  • XI.M. Human Rights Due Diligence

XII. Health

5
  • XII.A. Right to Health and Medical Care
  • XII.B. Right to Environmental Health
  • XII.C. Right to Water and Sanitation
  • XII.D. Right to Mental Health
  • XII.E. Right to Protection from Harmful Effects of AI in Healthcare

XIII. Environmental Rights

3
  • XIII.A. Right to a Healthy Environment
  • XIII.B. Right to Sustainable Development
  • XIII.C. Right to Protection from Environmental Harm due to Technological Advancements

XIV. Digital Rights & Technology

8
  • XIV.A. Right to Access to Science and Technology
  • XIV.B. Right to Internet Access
  • XIV.C. Right to Ethical AI and Emerging Technologies
  • XIV.D. Digital Rights and Online Freedoms
  • XIV.E. Right to Algorithmic Transparency and Accountability
  • XIV.F. Right to Protection from Cyber Threats and Cybersecurity
  • XIV.G. Right to Digital Self-Determination
  • XIV.H. Right to Fair and Equitable Access to AI Benefits
View Categories

VIII.A. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion

Our global network of contributors to the AI & Human Rights Index is currently writing these articles and glossary entries. This particular page is currently in the recruitment and research stage. Please return later to see where this page is in the editorial workflow. Thank you! We look forward to learning with and from you.


[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.

  • COM: Media and Communication
  • ART: Arts and Culture
  • LAW: Legal and Law Enforcement
  • REG: Regulatory and Oversight Bodies
  • TECH: Technology and IT

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 18

Everyone has the right to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes Freedom to change his religion or belief, and Freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948) #

[Insert Blubook Format Citation]

Article 3

Every person has the right freely to profess a religious faith, and to manifest and practice it both in public and in private.

European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights (1950) #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 9

  1. Everyone has the right to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes Freedom to change his religion or belief and Freedom, either alone or in community with others and
    in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
  2. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public Safety,
    for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

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 18

  1. Everyone shall have the right to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include Freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and Freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
  2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his Freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
  3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public Safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
  4. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions.

American Convention on Human Rights (1969) #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 12

  1. Everyone has the right to Freedom of conscience and of religion. This right includes Freedom to maintain or
    is Freedom to maintain or to change his religion or to change one’s religion or beliefs, and Freedom to profess or disseminate one’s religion or beliefs, either individually or together with others, in public or in private.
  2. No one shall be subject to restrictions that might impair his religion or beliefs

African Charter on Human Rights (1981) #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 8

Freedom of conscience, the profession and free practice of religion shall be guaranteed. No one may, subject to law and order, be submitted to measures restricting the exercise of these freedoms.

Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981) #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 1

1. Everyone shall have the right to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include Freedom to have a religion or whatever belief of his choice, and Freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his Freedom to have a religion or belief of his choice.

3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public Safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) #

G.A. Res. 44/25, Convention on the Rights of the Child, U.N. Doc. A/RES/44/25 (Nov. 20, 1989)

Article 14

1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

2. States Parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.

3. Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public Safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 2

  1. Persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities (hereinafter referred to as persons belonging to minorities) have the right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, and to use their own language, in private and in public, freely and without interference or any form of discrimination.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union #

[Insert Bluebook Format Citation]

Article 10

  1. Everyone has the right to Freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes Freedom
    to change religion or belief and Freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or in
    private, to manifest religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
  2. The right to conscientious objection is recognised, in accordance with the national laws governing
    the exercise of this right.

1.0 Research
2.0 Curate
3.0 Review
4.0 Revise
5.0 Published

Last Updated:  April 18, 2025

Research Assistant:  Aarianna Aughtry

Contributor:  Nathan C. Walker

Reviewer:  To Be Determined

Editor:  Alexander Kriebitz

Subject:  Human Right

Edition:  Edition 1.0 Research

Recommended Citation:  "VIII.A. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion, Edition 1.0 Research." In AI & Human Rights Index, edited by Nathan C. Walker, Dirk Brand, Caitlin Corrigan, Georgina Curto Rex, Alexander Kriebitz, John Maldonado, Kanshukan Rajaratnam, and Tanya de Villiers-Botha. New York: All Tech is Human; Camden, NJ: AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University, 2025. Accessed November 10, 2025. https://aiethicslab.rutgers.edu/Docs/viii-a-thought/.

Updated on October 17, 2025

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VIII.B. Right to Language
Table of Contents
  • Sectors
  • AI’s Potential Violations
  • AI’s Potential Benefits
  • Human Rights Instruments
    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (1948)
    • European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights (1950)
    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
    • American Convention on Human Rights (1969)
    • African Charter on Human Rights (1981)
    • Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief (1981)
    • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
    • Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities
    • Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
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Humans First Fund

Dr. Nathan C. Walker
Principal Investigator, AI Ethics Lab

Rutgers University-Camden
College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Philosophy & Religion

AI Ethics Lab at the Digital Studies Center
Cooper Library in Johnson Park
101 Cooper St, Camden, NJ 08102

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