CSocD64 side-event “Shaping the AI Future: Ethical and Inclusive AI Governance for Youth and All”
Opening Remarks by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Estonia Ms. Katri Lõhmus
New York, 6 February 2026
Thank you, moderator,
Estonia is pleased to be a part of this event and share some of our experiences and practices.
AI transforms societies faster than many governments and institutions can adapt. But since the impact of this transformation reaches us all, it is important that not only all nations, but also different stakeholders have a say in these discussions. Together with El Salvador, Estonia is proud to serve as a co-chair of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance, that takes place in July this year in Geneva. It is the first of its kind to advance international cooperation and enable open, transparent and inclusive discussions on AI governance on a global scale.
Allow me to turn now to our national experience where partnership between the government, technology community, academia and civil society is the cornerstone of ethical and inclusive digital governance. I will bring you a few concrete examples of youth-centric AI initiatives in Estonia that showcase this principle.
A year ago, Estonia announced an initiative, called the AI Leap, a nationwide education programme developed in partnership with the President of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the private sector. By providing access to specific learning applications for high school students and teachers, the AI Leap strengthens learning skills. To guide this transformation, our Minister of Education has established an AI Advisory Council, bringing together experts from education, research, and technology. In parallel, we are working on national guidelines for schools and recommendations for teachers on how to integrate AI meaningfully into teaching and learning. The selection of technologies has been done very carefully and are developed in cooperation with researchers and universities.
To bring another example, the Office of the Estonian Commissioner for Gender Equality and Equal Treatment is working on an AI-based tool called Valdur that helps to identify discrimination in job postings. This includes discrimination based on age. One of the common findings is an unjustified requirement of five-year work experience, denying young applicants the opportunity and making it even more challenging for them to find their first job.
The last example I would like to introduce is the work of Estonian web police – real life police officers that provide counselling, legal advice and support to persons who suspect or have fallen victim to harmful activity in the digital space. This includes cybercrime, harassment and bullying, and sexual abuse. The main beneficiaries of the web police’s work are children and young persons.
These are just a few examples that I wanted to share with you today.
Distinguished audience,
The AI presents both opportunities and risks but if guided by international law and human rights we can shape a trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI.
Thank you.