Human Rights Council
56th session of the Human Rights Council
18 June to 12 July 2024
Statement delivered during the Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
 
1 July 2024
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you Mr. President,
 
I would like to thank the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the report. New and emerging technologiesare rapidly developing and can have significant implications for the enjoyment of human rightsin both positive and negative ways.
 
They help create an infrastructure that can be used to facilitate the exercise of human rights, but if not designed with appropriate safeguards and oversight, they can potentially be misused to facilitate surveillance of citizens, impede access to information, or even deny people their right to privacy. In this context, new technologies must be enforced with a human rights-based approach.
 
Albania recognizes the need to take effective measures to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of new technologies on human rights, in accordance with obligations under international human rights law.
 
Albania has launched various projects to inform its citizens of their rights and realize these rights through digital means. Albania is also working to improve digital skills to give citizens a better overview of the impact of innovation on human rights and how they can be more careful and more aware of their digital data.
 
New and emerging technologies can pose serious risks to human rights when used without appropriate safeguards, in this context, we need to work together to exchange best practices on how to mitigate these risks by protecting people from the misuse of the new and emerging technologies – including artificial intelligence. 
 
Thank you.