Application deadline: 12 Oct 2025
Course dates: 31 Oct 2025 - 22 Dec 2025
Duration: 18 hours
Location: Online

Rapid development of digital technologies provides new opportunities for public policy. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, e-government platforms, big data or geospatial analysis tools hold immense potential to facilitate decision-making and provision of public services, enable citizen participation, prevent threats to public security and the rule of law, and advance human rights. At the same time, digital technologies may reinforce inequalities, exacerbate discrimination and infringe on privacy. How can the positive transformative effect of emerging digital technologies be unlocked without compromising human rights?

This introductory course equips the participants with the essential knowledge of the opportunities and the risks that new digital technologies present to human rights and approaches to addressing them. The course consists of four modules. The opening module first introduces the concept of human rights and its foundations in international law. We then examine how human rights manifest themselves in a digital context. The second module explores the impact of emerging digital technologies on human rights. We critically consider the ability of digital innovations to foster as well as compromise human rights, in particular the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and equality and non-discrimination. In the third module, we get acquainted with the key principles and design strategies for responsible governance of digital technologies. We zoom in on the key regulatory frameworks that support a human-rights-based approach to digital regulation. In the closing, fourth module, we look at some of the best practices in ensuring responsible digital regulation, including policies aimed at digital inclusion and empowerment, awareness raising and education, and capacity building.

With the generous support of the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, this course is offered for free for selected participants.

Members of the above-mentioned target population are invited to apply for the training if they meet the following criteria:

Hold an undergraduate degree in a relevant field or have a minimum of three years of experience in the field.
Possess a fluent level of English.
Government officials and policymakers from developing countries, particularly women, are encouraged to apply.
Selection will be conducted by the course organizers, who will consider the above entry requirements along with an analysis of the application questionnaire of each applicant.

Number of available places: 30

For questions, please contact Praachi Kumar