Programme

AI and Human Rights: Promises and Pitfalls, 16:30 - 17:45

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the human rights landscape — from predictive analytics and risk mapping to content moderation and data visualization. While AI offers promising solutions for advancing rights protection and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it also presents profound challenges: algorithmic discrimination, surveillance risks, misuse by states and malicious actors, and growing
accountability gaps.

This panel brings together critical voices from the fields of AI ethics, human rights law, and digital innovation to explore both the structural risks and transformative potential of AI deployment in human rights contexts. By addressing real-world applications as well as systemic concerns, the panel invites a dialogue on how AI can be harnessed ethically, inclusively, and transparently — and where it must be resisted.  Key questions include

• In what ways is AI already being used to promote or undermine human rights?
• How can systemic risks in AI-driven solutions, such as surveillance and bias be addressed?
• Where are the boundaries of ethical AI use in rights-sensitive contexts?
•  How can we ensure inclusive, accountable, and transparent governance of AI systems in global human rights work?
  

Humanitarian Action in the 21st Century: Technological Opportunities and Challenges

Gilles Carbonnier, Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross

This keynote explores how technological developments are affecting humanitarian action in the 21st century. Drawing on the experience of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and its Engineering for Humanitarian Action Partnership with ETH Zurich and EPLF,  it examines both the opportunities digital tools offer - such as more efficient relief and logistics, better access to information on and for affected populations, stronger cybersecurity - and the significant risks and challenges they pose. These include concerns around new means and methods of warfare such as autonomous weapon systems, AI use in the military domain, vulnerability to cyberattacks and other disruptions affecting people in armed conflicts. The keynote offers a critical reflection on the enduring relevance of international humanitarian law (IHL) and principles in an increasingly digital world and highlights what academia, governments, NGOs and private sector partners can do to support humanitarian action and respect for IHL.  

Engineering for Global Impact, 09:20 - 10:35

This session explores how academic institutions can serve as catalysts for transformative global change at the intersection of science, engineering, and society. Key questions include:

• What role can universities play in driving innovation for global sustainable and equitable development? With foreign aid declining and geopolitical tensions rising, what new responsibilities might universities need to take on in global development and humanitarian efforts?
• What examples exist of university-led technologies or initiatives that have directly improved lives, especially in low-income settings? Or do we just need to wait for a trickle-down effect of scientific innovations to be adapted for the needs of vulnerable populations?
• Do we need dedicated global engineering centers at universities, and where should these be located?

Science for Low-Cost & Sustainable Housing in Growing Citites, 11:00 - 12:15

Description will follow. 

Past and Future Innovations in Health Technologies, 13:30 - 14:45

As innovation in health accelerates in areas like AI-driven diagnostics and portable medical devices, how can these tools be developed and deployed to equitably improve access to health globally, particularly in low-resource settings? Key questions include:

• What future innovations in health technologies are most likely to close critical gaps in healthcare access and quality in low- and middle-income countries?
• What role could recent advancements in new technological platforms (for example AI) play?
• What are the risks of techno-solutionism in global health, and how can we ensure technologies are aligned with real-world needs and health systems?
• What models of collaboration between universities, governments, industry, and health workers are needed to accelerate targeted innovation and scale?
• What can other disciplines learn from public health when it comes to interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research? What are the challenges moving from technological innovation to affordable care at scale? 

description will follow

Inclusive Adaptation to Climate Change, 16:00-17:15

As climate change impacts intensify, the need for effective and inclusive adaptation becomes ever more urgent. This session explores the dynamic interplay between locally grounded adaptation responses and global approaches, asking how we can craft adaptation strategies that are context-specific, scalable and inclusive. Key questions include:

• What are promising examples of inclusive adaptation — what makes them effective, and can they be scaled?
• How do we balance context-specific solutions and the need for scalable approaches, global coordination, and shared research?
• What contributions can global or regional research make to inclusive and locally grounded adaptation?
• What is needed to ensure that the poorest and most marginalized populations are not left behind?
• How can practitioners and researchers work together more effectively to bridge gaps between science, policy, and implementation?

description will follow

tbd.

Rethinking Food Systems for Global Food Security, 09:00 - 10:15

As global food systems face increasing pressure - from climate change, environmental degradation, population growth, supply chain disruptions, and unequal access to resources - there is an urgent need to address systemic weaknesses and reimagine pathways toward more sustainable and equitable agricultural practices. Key questions include:

• What are key barriers to achieving sustainable agriculture and food security that need immediate attention?
• How should regions balance the cultivation of export-oriented cash crops and subsistence food crops? What insights can we draw from the food self-sufficiency debate?
• What could be transformative solutions or leverage points that would significantly advance food security?

From Technological Pilot to Societal Scale , 10:45 - 12:00

This session examines the journey from innovation to widespread impact, exploring what it takes to scale research-based solutions in complex global development contexts. Key questions include:

• What are real-world examples of research-based innovations that successfully scaled - and those that failed? Why were some successful and others failed?
• Why is scaling so difficult in the context of global development, and what factors most influence success? How can early-stage innovators design for scale from the beginning?
• What roles do researchers, private sector, international organizations, and donors each need to play to increase the chances of reaching impact at scale? What type of collaborations do we need?

Friday, 12 September from 1:30 pm - 3.30 pm 

The workshop focuses on building equitable and effective global research partnerships. It explores strategies to ensure fair collaboration, mutual benefit, and meaningful impact across diverse cultural and institutional contexts. Topics include colonial hegemonies in research partnerships, power imbalances, and approaches to navigating ethical and cultural sensitivities in research partnerships.

Target Audience: All symposium participants

Activities: Presentations and interactive sessions, as well as discussions on guidelines to equitable partnerships

Organisers: external page Swiss Alliance for Global Research Partnerships (GRP-Alliance) and NADEL, ETHZ

Location: HG E 22

This interactive workshop explores how AI can support the development of ethical, scalable digital human rights tools. Participants will engage with AI systems in real time to tackle core monitoring challenges. This workshop aims to teach AI-enhanced human rights monitoring, explore AI-human collaboration benefits and limits, and connect the Geneva Academy and ETH Zurich students in ethical AI development.

Target Audience: Open to both technical and non-technical participants

Activities: Expert-led demonstrations, interactive group work, roundtable reflections and feedback

Organisers: external page The Geneva Human Rights Platform and ETH Center for Security Studies

Location: HG E 23

Description will follow.

Friday, 12 September from 1:30 pm - 3.30 pm 

This workshop explores two central challenges for university-led innovations in global development and humanitarian spaces: 

• How to “match-make” and build effective collaborations between researchers and practitioners
• How to bring promising research-based innovations to scale

Activities: Participants discuss examples from their own organizations, reflect on barriers to collaboration and scaling, and co-develop suggestions to advance research-based innovation in the humanitarian and development field. 

Organisers: Fabrice Lauper, The International Committee of the Red Cross; Adina Rom, ETH Zurich 

Location: HG E 33.1