The Council of Europe recently underscored its role at a global AI-standards summit in Seoul, presenting how it combines human-rights principles with technical AI governance. The organisation highlighted that its newly adopted Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law is the first internationally legally binding framework of its kind. This convention — together with the Council’s guidance for assessing risks and impacts of AI (e.g. through the HUDERIA guidance) — aims to ensure AI systems respect fundamental human rights while enabling technical innovation.
By doing so, the Council of Europe seeks to integrate human-rights safeguards — such as dignity, privacy, equality, transparency, and rule of law — into the lifecycle of AI systems: from design and development to deployment and decommissioning. This approach contrasts with purely technical or voluntary “ethics checklists” from individual companies, treating respect for human rights as a mandatory baseline rather than a goodwill bonus.
Moreover, the Council emphasised that responsible AI governance requires collaboration: states, private sector, technical standard bodies, civil society, and regional organisations must work together globally. Because AI use and risks cross borders, having a shared, binding framework helps align diverse jurisdictions around common values and standards.
Finally — the Council’s model may serve as a blueprint for other regions of the world. By linking technical AI standards (for safety, interoperability, transparency) with enforceable human-rights obligations, the framework aims to foster “trustworthy AI”: one that supports innovation, while protecting individuals and societies from abuse, discrimination or harm.
