The 62nd session of the Human Rights Council is underway at the United Nations office in Geneva. A side event on digital governance and human rights was organized by a delegation from China which saw experts and academics share their insights on China's Global Governance Initiative. Julia Hamilton reports.

Digital governance is a relatively new topic in human rights and according to experts, China is already ahead in digital regulation. A side event of the UN Human rights council, held in Geneva, saw experts, lawyers, and academics gather to discuss people-centred digital governance and China's approach to it.

ALFRED-MAURICE DE ZAYAS Former UN Independent Expert on Promotion of a Democratic and Equitable International Order "The idea is to promote dialogue and to move away from confrontation. We need a shift in paradigm, and at present the mood in the Security Council is very confrontational, and people don't listen to each other. And China has been for the last 20 years, actually, China has been a voice advocating reconciliation, advocating, trying to find a modus vivendi."

The experts discussed AI and digital governance in the international global supply chain, AI technologies used in daily life and the quality of AI development. Through their speeches, experts agreed that the UN should be the global governance system and they welcome countries like China who want to take it forward and make concrete and feasible suggestions, like China's Global Governance Initiative.

CALVIN QUEANT Founder & Director, Global Centre for Multilateral Dialogue President, East West Bridge "The hierarchy that we are in is not sustainable with the emerging power of the Global South. And I think that this initiative is able to bring about the equality that it deserves. In my opinion, the main issue is the fact that since there is no central leading power or central structure that exists for the moment, there are a lot of parallel systems that are cohabitating."

The side event in Geneva was hosted by China Society for Human Rights Studies and saw experts from China, the US, Switzerland, Greece and Peru give their international perspective.

JULIA HAMILTON Geneva "During the current session of the UN Human Rights Council, experts are discussing how to ensure artificial intelligence serves the public good without compromising fundamental rights. As AI continues to advance faster than many governments can regulate it, issues surrounding privacy, accountability and equal access are becoming an increasingly important part of the global human rights agenda. Julia Hamilton, CGTN, Geneva."