United Nations University Centre for Policy Research (UNU-CPR)

At #TheAISummit New York, part of The AI Summit Series, Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, Head of Anticipatory Action and Innovation at UNU-CPR, discussed the future of #AI governance with Valerie Kennedy, Chief Diversity Officer with the Office of the District Attorney-Bronx County. Key points included: 👉 The implications of the UN’s Global Digital Compact for enhancing digital governance and inclusion in local communities in New York; 👉 Strategies for enhancing public engagement in AI governance to uphold and safeguard human rights; 👉 The important role of AI and digital literacy in enabling equitable access to and understanding of emerging technologies; 👉 The value of an application-specific approach to addressing AI risks, as demonstrated by the EU AI Act; 👉 The significance of National AI Safety Institutes and their coordination with the UN’s International Scientific Panel on AI to promote global collaboration and oversight. Follow developments in AI ethics, policy and global governance here: https://lnkd.in/e4sicCcP

The 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) will kick off in the new year, bringing together the UN, Member States and civil society to take stock of peacebuilding efforts across the UN system.    Some propose using the PBAR to strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) advisory role to the Security Council. But thinking about the PBC’s relationship with the General Assembly and with other UN bodies may be a more potent way to strengthen the PBC’s position and improve peacebuilding coherence and traction.   Head of Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace at UNU-CPR, Erica Gaston, explains: https://lnkd.in/eQApKB9z

In Brazil, many migrants and refugees, particularly from Haiti, Bolivia and Venezuela, face significant bureaucratic hurdles, discriminatory practices and financial constraints that impede their ability to obtain essential documents like identity cards and proof of address. Without documentation, individuals are often excluded from legal protections, limiting opportunities for regular employment and increasing the risk of modern slavery. This UNU-CPR policy brief, with support from The Freedom Fund, examines how lacking access to official documentation in Brazil deprives people of basic rights, increasing their vulnerability to marginalization and exploitation: https://lnkd.in/gJeSMyh8

The number of trafficking victims detected globally between 2019 - 2022 increased by 25%, according to the 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons published today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region records some of the highest prevalence rates of forced labour globally, where vulnerabilites are heightened by conflict, poverty and migration. UNU-CPR's Handbook highlights the important role of financial intelligence in mitigation efforts, from providing evidence to prosecute traffickers to redirecting seized assets to support victims: https://lnkd.in/eHQtz4zZ

For generations, many communities in Nepal – particularly migrant groups, women in cross-border marriages and marginalized populations – have faced systemic barriers to obtaining documentation, depriving vulnerable individuals access to education, formal employment, financial services and legal protections, often pushing them into informal and exploitative work. This UNU-CPR policy brief, with support from The Freedom Fund, addresses a critical evidence gap in understanding whether, and if so how, a lack of official documentation can increase modern slavery risks: https://lnkd.in/eTSGGS9b

In a historic turn of events, the Syrian Government collapsed on Sunday – after a rapid 10-day rebel offensive reached the capital and ended over 50 years of Assad family rule. What happens when entrenched authoritarian regimes like Assad's fall, and how can future conflicts be prevented? The UNU-CPR report "When Dictators Fall" offers insights into transitions from authoritarianism and pathways to peace: https://lnkd.in/eNFnhFcA

December 10 is #HumanRightsDay. Indigenous migration, often outside legal channels, challenges international rights frameworks. Facing threats like land dispossession, labor exploitation and gender-based violence, their migration is far from safe and orderly, and states have yet to provide adequate protection. In response, Indigenous communities have developed their own strategies to defend their rights and seek justice. UNU-CPR proposes a critical rights literacy framework – based on Indigenous migrant practices across Guatemala, Mexico and the United States – which centres Indigenous Knowledge, Networks, Ownership and Words: https://lnkd.in/e-YmkPvM

On #HumanRightsDay, revisit the 2024 Thematic Review on Synergies between Human Rights and Peacebuilding, led by UNU-CPR for the UN Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) with United Nations Human Rights and Switzerland. The review examines how the Peacebuilding Fund has supported synergies between human rights and peacebuilding in practice, taking stock of 92 projects implemented in 45 countries over the last five years and showcasing human rights as a transformative force for prevention and protection. Access the Thematic Review and its case studies here: https://lnkd.in/eyN6Fb6H #OurRightsOurFuture

This #HumanRightsDay, Dr. Eleonore Fournier-Tombs, Head of Anticipatory Action and Innovation at UNU-CPR and author of "Gender Reboot: Reprogramming Gender Rights in the Age of AI", highlights her concern over #AI’s impact on the right to protection from discrimination and stereotyping. UNU-CPR’s Anticipatory Action and Innovation pillar focuses on equipping the UN to tackle emerging challenges, with a particular emphasis on AI, digital governance and developing solutions that foster a human-centred digital future. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e4sicCcP In “Gender Reboot”, Fournier-Tombs explores gender norms and women’s rights in the age of AI, and how we might harness current technological developments for gender equality. Access the book here: https://lnkd.in/ef4-mDJv UNU-CPR is proud to support the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (United Nations Human Rights) in advancing efforts to address the intersection of AI and human rights. #OurRightsOurFuture

This week, as part of the 2024 Academic Conference on Africa convened by the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, UNU-CPR was honoured to participate in a roundtable discussion on “Theory to Action: Leveraging African Scholarship in Policy Development”. #AcademicAfrica2024 The discussion focused on enhancing collaboration between African academics and policymakers to integrate the continent’s knowledge into impactful policies, and reiterated United Nations University's commitment to serve as a bridge between the Global South and the Global North, facilitating connections between researchers, policymakers and institutions across global divides. Thank you to all participants for your insightful contributions. Watch the session here: https://lnkd.in/d7q4RmCa