Action coalition on responsible technology

Background

In 2021, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated the Tech for Democracy Initiative. This Action Coalition has been developed as a part of this Initiative to bring together business, civil society, academia and governmental actors to further human rights considerations in the development and use of technology.

The difference we make 

The Action Coalition on Responsible Technology

Together with key stakeholders, including the UN Human Rights’ B-Tech project, the Global Network Initiative (GNI), Ericsson, Telia Company and BSR, this Action Coalition has been established to support the improvement of human rights due diligence efforts and activities in relation to development and use of digital technologies.

The Action Coalition on Responsible Technology ...

• … represents a community of actors that believe that a business and human rights lens to the development and use of digital technologies is critical and necessary.
• … brings together actors that  work with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and see an opportunity and benefit of engaging in the Action Coalition to share existing work, identify synergies and complementarity, and to align efforts and gain further momentum for key business and human rights messages.

This will be achieved by:

• collectively identifying existing guidance, knowledge, and resources gaps,
• participating in activities aimed at bridging the identified gaps, and
• producing public outputs to the benefit of the larger ‘responsible technology’ community, as well as for the action coalition members themselves.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights will, in addition to itself being a member of the Action Coalition, coordinate and support the Action Coalition in close dialogue and collaboration with the other members of the Coalition.

New participants

All new participants are encouraged to first read the Action Coalition concept note and the Copenhagen Pledge (see links on this page), as well as:

• Having a commitment to ensure and support respect for human rights in relation to the development and use of technology (cf. Copenhagen Pledge: “Applying our shared democratic values and a human rights-based approach in the design, development, deployment, and use of digital technologies”).
• Deciding which of the key themes that are of particular interest to you (between one and all).
• Contributing your time and expertise in the following activities: Action Coalition workshops, and contributions to or review of action coalition publications.
• Sharing lessons learned from your own practices and activities with the Action Coalition and its members.

Learn more about the Action Coalition or request to join the action coalition by sending an email to Cathrine Bloch Veiberg, cph@humanrights.dk, with the heading ‘Action coalition on responsible technology’.

Action Coalition Partners

• OHCHR B-Tech project
• Global Network Initiative
• BSR
• Telia Company
• Ericsson