UNESCO Advances Ethical AI Governance in Ecuador

Published Date : 31/07/2025 

UNESCO, in collaboration with various institutions, organized a multisectoral event in Ecuador to address the ethical, social, and legal challenges of artificial intelligence. The event aimed to develop robust regulatory frameworks centered on human rights. 

Quito, July 24, 2025 – UNESCO, in partnership with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), FLACSO Ecuador, and Niubox, organized a technical event titled “Human Rights-based Innovation: Ethical Governance of Artificial Intelligence.” This event brought together representatives from public institutions, academia, international organizations, and civil society organizations to collectively reflect on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in Ecuador and Latin America.

The main objective of the meeting was to address the ethical, social, and legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence and to contribute to the development of robust regulatory frameworks that align with international standards and are centered on human rights.

The event agenda included a series of presentations and discussions:

• 09:30 – 09:35 - Welcome remarks – Kathiana Homayde, Manager of the Metropolitan District Zone

• 09:35 – 09:40 - Institutional presentation – Tatiana Villegas, Director of the UNESCO Office in Quito

• 09:40 – 09:50 - Ethics in AI – Carlos García, UTPL

• 09:50 – 10:05 - Assessment of the Artificial Intelligence Landscape (AILA) – Betsabé Moreno, UNDP

• 10:15 – 10:35 - Presentation on the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI (RAM) – Daniel Vizuete, FLACSO

• 10:35 – 10:50 - Status of regional regulation – Paula Alomía, Niubox

In her opening remarks, Tatiana Villegas, Representative of UNESCO in Ecuador, emphasized the importance of an ethical governance of AI. She stated, “An ‘ethical’ governance of artificial intelligence — that is, norms that balance innovation with the protection of human rights — is not only necessary but also beneficial to us as a society. Innovation and human rights can (and must) advance together, thereby enabling AI to become a truly robust, sustainable tool in the service of human development.”

Villegas highlighted that the technical roundtable on AI represents a collaborative effort among academic institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector, government representatives, and agencies of the United Nations System. The goal is to link the best available scientific evidence to public decision-making processes.

Dr. Carlos García, a research professor at UTPL and a member of the UNESCO Chair on Ethics and Society in Higher Education, addressed the ethical challenges posed by AI systems from a philosophical and humanistic perspective. He warned about the risks of delegating essential intellectual functions, such as reading, writing, and the construction of knowledge, to automated systems. He stated, “Writing is not merely a means of communication, but a foundational act of thought and a space of freedom. When it is replaced by AI systems, there is a risk of reducing knowledge to mere information, thereby losing its transformative and critical capacity.”

Drawing on the ideas of Kant and Derrida, Dr. García argued that authentic knowledge arises from the human capacity to establish original relationships between ideas, something that automated language models cannot replicate. He called for the promotion of critical literacy in the face of the use of emerging technologies.

Betsabé Moreno, a specialist from the UNDP, presented the key findings of the AILA report: Assessment of the Artificial Intelligence Landscape in Ecuador. This groundbreaking study analyzes the ethical, legal, and social challenges posed by the development of AI in the country. The document proposes fundamental principles to guide its regulation, such as respect for human autonomy, harm prevention, equity, explainability, and transparency. It also emphasizes the need for ethical governance that ensures human oversight, accountability, data protection, and environmental sustainability. The full report is available at: [https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2025-06/aila_ecuador.pdf](https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2025-06/aila_ecuador.pdf).

Daniel Vizuete from FLACSO-Ecuador presented progress on the tool 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the main objective of the event 'Human Rights-based Innovation: Ethical Governance of Artificial Intelligence'?

A: The main objective of the event is to address the ethical, social, and legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence and to contribute to the development of robust regulatory frameworks that align with international standards and are centered on human rights.

Q: Who organized the event in Ecuador?

A: The event was organized by UNESCO, in collaboration with the Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), FLACSO Ecuador, and Niubox.

Q: What is the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence?

A: The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence is the first global normative instrument in this field, adopted by all 193 Member States in 2021. It aims to ensure that technological development contributes to collective well-being, equity, and sustainability.

Q: What are the key principles proposed by the AILA report for the regulation of AI in Ecuador?

A: The AILA report proposes fundamental principles such as respect for human autonomy, harm prevention, equity, explainability, and transparency. It also emphasizes the need for ethical governance that ensures human oversight, accountability, data protection, and environmental sustainability.

Q: What is the role of the Readiness Assessment Matrix (RAM) for Artificial Intelligence?

A: The RAM is a tool developed by UNESCO to support Member States in the implementation of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. It helps identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities in key areas such as governance, regulation, infrastructure, human capacities, inclusion, sustainability, and international cooperation. 

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