  A Practical Human Rights Toolbox

The A+Allianceis a global,multidisciplinary, diverse and feminist  coalition of expert practitioners, academics and activists working to create and apply Affirmative Action Algorithms  that change the current path of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Decision-Making Systems.We do our equality work through applying an AI & Gender Lens to our advocacy and research.

A+ Alliance / Women at the Table

“Bias is to AI what rust is to steel. It corrupts decisions, leaving us unsure of the integrity of our systems, dooming them to failure.”       MIT Technology Review Dec 2019
Workshop
Background 
Why and where can algorithms be gender biased? How can a human rights based approach be applied to computer science, engineering and innovation? Research shows that bias is in play in every aspect of modern life and has  substantial, far-reaching impacts on our work environments, private life and culture.
We are at a critical turning point. In order to innovate and thrive in a rapidly changing global environment, new norms are needed. The “standardized male” is the default of flawed systems and cultural standards that currently control how we live and work - defaults so normalized we don’t even notice. From 20th century drug trials, international standards, city transit systems and global trading rules to 21st century algorithmic decision making and machine learning systems, this default has proven to harm people - and the bottom line.
In this crucial moment when AI is transforming every aspect of our lives and the very fabric of our society - potentially the greatest global paradigm shift yet - it is crystal clear that the design and deployment of AI must be grounded in human rights. Similarly, gender equality - the very heart of human rights - must be included in AI design and deployment. 
Particularly urgent given the scale at which Automated Decision-Making (ADM) systems and machine learning are being deployed, we need scientists and engineers that understand the gender dimensions of their work and the implications their work has for all citizens, so that we all can thrive. 
Who is this workshop for? 
EPFL undergraduate and graduate students
Workshop
The Digital Humanities Institute in collaboration with the Equal Opportunities Office will host a 3 hour practical, agile and interactive workshop ‘AI & Gender: A Human Rights Toolbox’ for students on the EPFL Campus. Using gender as a prism to understand a human rights framework that underscores AI, the  interactive workshop will foster reflection on the stereotypes, biases and gendered roles of both women and men, with the intention of understanding what real-life constraints hinder equality in the working environments and the output of computer scientists and  engineers. The workshop will increase participant awareness of the relevance of gender and bias in their work and to their workplace and provides a unique opportunity to develop, deepen, and apply gender equality learnings, putting learning into action, ultimately leading to better decision-making, excellence in science, and improved practices.
Objectives 
Applying a human-rights based approach this workshop will develop and strengthen awareness as well as the understanding of gender equality and gender bias as a first step towards behavioural change, and the integration of a gender perspective into everyday work of computer science and engineering. 
Throughout the workshop, participants will complete a variety of interactive exercises, discussion and activities. The workshop will be supported by specific training materials including a gender-responsive checklist tailored for computer science and engineering students, faculty and staff for use to embed gender across their research and day-to-day work. 
Following the workshop (after 4-6 weeks), participants will be invited to attend a voluntary additional 1.5 hour session to focus on the application of the checklists to real-life research and design scenarios. This follow-up session will allow participants to reflect on the initial training and lessons learnt and have the opportunity to share insights that have come up in their research, design, development and learning environments.
 
Learning outcomes: 
Upon completion EPFL students will have the knowledge and skills to:
<UL>
<LI>
Explain a human rights based approach to AI ; 
</LI>
<LI>
Identify relevance of different biases and importance of gender equality to computer science and engineering / institutional objectives;
</LI>
<LI>
Analyze how gender bias has occurred or can occur in the research, design and development of AI;
</LI>
<LI>
Apply how and when to use gender inclusive tools and techniques to mitigate gender bias in AI;
</LI>
<LI>
Evaluate concrete methods to integrate gender into design, planning and implementation of AI projects. 
</LI>
</UL>
 
Instructors
Caitlin Kraft-Buchman is the CEO/Founder of Women at the Table, a growing global Swiss civil society organization based in Geneva, and the first organization to focus on systems change by helping women gain influence in sectors that have key structural impact: the economy; technology; sustainability; and democracy and governance.  She frequently curates interactive workshops on gender-related issues such as trade, standards, data, smart cities and technology. She has most recently spoken at the UN Office at Geneva, Economic Commission for Europe, International Telecommunication Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, MozFest, Paris Peace Forum, Internet Governance Forum, and the Global Refugee Forum.  She is a founder of the <A TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Alliance for Inclusive Algorithms.</A>
Asako Hattori  serves as a human rights officer at the Women’s Human Rights and Gender Section, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights– – OHCHR). Previously, she served at the Secretariat of the United Nations human rights treaty bodies, including the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. At UN Human Rights, she has  also worked on economic, social and cultural rights, land and human rights, gender stereotyping, digital technologies and women’s rights.
 
FAQs
 
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
Admin@WomenAtTheTable.net

A Practical Human Rights Toolbox

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A Practical Human Rights Toolbox

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