The United Kingdom, which this month holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, announced Monday that it will convene, for the first time, a debate on the opportunities and risks for international peace and security of Artificial Intelligence.
Scheduled for July 18, the debate will be one of the special events of the British presidency and will be led by the British Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Cleverly, in addition to the presence of the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN). , Antonio Guterres.
The UK intends for the meeting to build on the “World Congress on Artificial Intelligence (AI)” held in London last month and to clarify the opportunities and potential risks presented by this technology.
“As humanity stands on the cusp of this gigantic technological leap, we want to encourage a multilateral approach to managing the enormous opportunities and risks that artificial intelligence poses to all of us, including its implications for international peace and security. No country can to do that…alone. It will require a global effort,” UK Ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward said today.
At a press conference in New York, the diplomat said AI has “enormous potential” to, for example, fill development gaps between countries, but at the same time “great risks” if used in weapons management. conventional or even nuclear. . .
For this reason, it is important that the future of Artificial Intelligence, which “evolves at full speed”, is addressed multilaterally and is not left at the mercy of each State, as Guterres proposes.
In the presentation of the agenda for the month of July, the ambassador also informed that the United Kingdom intends to promote the reform of the Security Council during its presidency of the organization, defending its expansion to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, as well as to an African country.
According to the British ambassador, these are countries “with influence” and their choice reflects a “geographical balance”.
Another UK-sponsored debate this month will focus on sexual violence in conflict. The meeting, scheduled for July 14, will be chaired by the British diplomat Tariq Ahmad, special representative for the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflicts.
The third special event will take place on Wednesday and will be an annual debate on children and armed conflict.
UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Programs Omar Abdi are expected to present data on grave violations against children in conflict situations.
In July the war in Ukraine will also be addressed in the Security Council, with at least one ‘briefing’ on July 17, which will be chaired by James Cleverly.
“The Russian invasion represents the most immediate threat to what the UN represents to the international order, where disagreements are resolved peacefully and through diplomacy, not through death and destruction. (…) Therefore, we will use our presidency to ensure that the truth about Russia’s war crimes is heard and, once again, we call on Russia to end the war so that Ukraine can return to peace.”
This debate will take place precisely on the eve of the deadline for the so-called Black Sea grain agreement, the possible extension of which is uncertain and viewed with some pessimism by the British diplomat.
The ambassador criticized Russia’s attitude of constantly threatening not to renew the agreement each time its end nears, which inevitably generates tensions in the market that raise food prices.
“Russia is playing with food on people’s tables,” Woodward said.
Regarding Middle East issues, the monthly program includes meetings on Syria, Iran, Yemen, Lebanon and Palestine.
In July, the situation in West Africa, Sudan and the renewal of the sanctions regime against the Central African Republic will also be addressed.
The Security Council is also expected to hold a meeting on the situation in Haiti and vote on the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in the country (BINUH).
The UK is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and has veto power.
Source: TSF
