Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
A new international group, the Coalition for Children’s Rights and Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, has been launched in Geneva to prioritize children’s safety and rights amid rapid AI development. The coalition unites governments, UN agencies, technology companies, civil society organizations, educators, and child welfare experts, all operating within the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world’s most widely ratified human rights treaty.
Seventeen countries have joined so far, including Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, and Spain. Founding UN members include the Department of Global Communications, the UN human rights office, the International Telecommunication Union, the Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, UNICEF, and UNESCO.
The coalition states that while AI presents opportunities for children in education and creativity, it also brings risks not addressed by current systems. It calls for a fundamental shift: viewing children as rights holders who should influence AI design, deployment, and regulation, in line with their right to be heard, not merely as users to protect after the fact.
Coalition members have committed to embedding children’s perspectives into AI system development as a legal obligation, not just a consultative step. This ensures children’s voices shape AI solutions that impact their lives from the beginning.
The launch coincided with the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance and responds to the UN Secretary-General’s call for an AI Child Safety Pledge, stressing the need to safeguard children in the AI era. Coalition members will share evidence and best practices to ensure children’s rights are upheld in the evolving digital landscape.