UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI
The first global normative instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence, adopted by all 193 UNESCO Member States in November 2021. Establishes a comprehensive framework of values, principles, and policy action areas to guide the ethical development and deployment of AI systems worldwide.
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Framework Domains (3)
Policy Action Areas
Section V: Eleven policy areas where Member States should take action
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNESCO-AI-PA1 | Ethical Impact Assessment |
| UNESCO-AI-PA10 | Economy and Labour |
| UNESCO-AI-PA11 | Health and Social Well-Being |
| UNESCO-AI-PA2 | Ethical Governance and Stewardship |
| UNESCO-AI-PA3 | Data Policy |
| UNESCO-AI-PA4 | Development and International Cooperation |
| UNESCO-AI-PA5 | Environment and Ecosystems |
| UNESCO-AI-PA6 | Gender |
| UNESCO-AI-PA7 | Culture |
| UNESCO-AI-PA8 | Education and Research |
| UNESCO-AI-PA9 | Communication and Information |
Principles
Section IV: Ten ethical principles for AI systems
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNESCO-AI-P1 | Proportionality and Do No Harm |
| UNESCO-AI-P10 | Multi-Stakeholder Adaptive Governance |
| UNESCO-AI-P2 | Safety and Security |
| UNESCO-AI-P3 | Fairness and Non-Discrimination |
| UNESCO-AI-P4 | Sustainability |
| UNESCO-AI-P5 | Right to Privacy and Data Protection |
| UNESCO-AI-P6 | Human Oversight and Determination |
| UNESCO-AI-P7 | Transparency and Explainability |
| UNESCO-AI-P8 | Responsibility and Accountability |
| UNESCO-AI-P9 | Awareness and Literacy |
Values
Section III: Four foundational values that underpin the AI ethics framework
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| UNESCO-AI-V1 | Human Rights and Human Dignity |
| UNESCO-AI-V2 | Living in Peaceful, Just and Interconnected Societies |
| UNESCO-AI-V3 | Ensuring Diversity and Inclusiveness |
| UNESCO-AI-V4 | Environment and Ecosystem Flourishing |
Maps to 476 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI?
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI is a compliance framework from International with 3 domains and 25 controls. The first global normative instrument on the ethics of artificial intelligence, adopted by all 193 UNESCO Member States in November 2021. Establishes a comprehensive framework of values, principles, and policy action areas to guide the ethical development and deployment of AI systems worldwide. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI have?
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI has 25 controls organised across 3 domains. The largest domains are Policy Action Areas (11 controls), Principles (10 controls), Values (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI map to?
UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI maps to 476 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0) (40% coverage), NIST AI 600-1 Generative AI Profile (40% coverage), OECD AI Principles (2024 Update) (32% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI compliance?
Start your UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 25 controls and track your progress.
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