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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

XI.D. Right to Form and Join Trade Unions

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.

  • BUS: Business Sectors
  • GOV: Government and Public Sector
  • LAW: Legal and Law Enforcement
  • 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 23

4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

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 22

1. Everyone shall have the right to Freedom of assoication with others, including the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

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 8

3. Nothing in this article shall authorize States Parties to the International Labour Organisation Convention of 1948 concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize to take legislative measures which would prejudice, or apply the law in such a manner as would prejudice, the guarantees provided for in that Convention.

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure:

(a) The right of everyone to form trade unions and join the trade union of his choice, subject only to the rules of the organization concerned, for the promotion and protection of his economic and social interests. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of this right other than those prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national Security or public order or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others;

(b) The right of trade unions to establish national federations or confederations and the right of the latter to form or join international trade-union organizations;

(c) The right of trade unions to function freely subject to no limitations other than those prescribed by law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national Security or public order or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others;

(d) The right to strike, provided that it is exercised in conformity with the laws of the particular country.

2. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces or of the police or of the administration of the State.

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)

4. Expresses its grave concern that there has been a deterioriation in a number of areas, notably in relation to:

(d) Trade union rights.

5.

(d). To restore fully trade union rights, especially as regards the Freedom to form trade unions which can operate freely without government Control and exercise fully the right to strike;

1.0 Research
2.0 Curate
3.0 Review
4.0 Revise
5.0 Published

Last Updated:  April 29, 2025

Research Assistants:  Laiba Mehmood, Aarianna Aughtry

Contributor:  To Be Determined

Reviewer:  Laiba Mehmood

Editor:  Caitlin Corrigan

Subject:  Human Right

Edition:  Edition 1.0 Research

Recommended Citation:  "XI.D. Right to Form and Join Trade Unions, 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 December 13, 2025. https://aiethicslab.rutgers.edu/Docs/xi-d-unions/.

Updated on April 29, 2025

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XI.E. Right to Rest and LeisureXI.C. Right to Remuneration
Table of Contents
  • Sectors
  • AI’s Potential Violations
  • AI’s Potential Benefits
  • Human Rights Instruments
    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
    • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966)
    • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979)
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Rutgers University-Camden
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