A De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) academic will join global leaders and policymakers at UNESCO headquarters in Paris to discuss the future of ethical and responsible artificial intelligence.
Associate Professor Kutoma Wakunuma has been invited to speak at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Women’s Day dialogue on 9 March, held under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”
The event will bring together the Director-General of UNESCO, Director of the UNESCO Gender Equality Division, Senior representatives from member states and international experts to explore how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can be developed and governed in ways that protect human rights and promote equality.
Professor Wakunuma, who works on ethical and responsible artificial intelligence, has been invited to speak as a member of two UNESCO groups: Women for Ethical AI and AI Ethics Experts Without Borders. She said the discussion will focus on the challenges surrounding the development and governance of AI technologies to reflect on UNESCO’s action to support the enforcement, exercise and full enjoyment of women and girl’s rights.
She said: “AI is developed by a handful of big tech organisations, and questions arise around who is involved in the decisions made around these technologies, in developing them, training them, using them. The way these decisions are made can have a domino effect, influencing national policy and ultimately impacting local communities especially women particularly when we consider that women only make up just 12% of AI researchers and 33% of science researchers.”
Her contribution will explore a range of issues linked to responsible AI, including bias in decision-making, inequalities in access to technology, governance arrangements and the social and economic implications of AI systems.
She added: “We need to think about who the decision-makers are and what kinds of bias might exist. We also need to consider who has access to these technologies, because sometimes they can be very expensive and some groups simply do not have access.”
Professor Wakunuma will also highlight the importance of ensuring that a wider range of voices are involved in shaping the development of new technologies which ought to include more women.
“Why not have everybody at the table, bring together people with different values and different norms, so that we can aspire to a more level playing field?”
The dialogue organised by UNESCO aims to bring together global expertise to help shape future approaches to technology governance, equality and digital rights. Dr. Wakunuma, is also expected to give recommendations to UNESCO and its partners to advance gender equality and multiply impact.
Posted on Friday 6 March 2026