How to Create a Human-Centered Information Society? A New Paradigm for Human Rights Policy

At this 4th International Human Rights Symposium, convened by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea, Korean and international experts will discuss measures to protect and enhance human rights more efficiently in the face of rapid economic and social change resulting from scientific and technological development.

Today we are witnessing profound shifts in the global economy, driven by simultaneous processes of datification and digitalization. Described as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0, or the digital transformation, this convergence of new technologies and new business practices is widely expected to result in transformative leaps for mankind, in fields as diverse as productivity, consumer choice and the defense of human rights.

However, there are also concerns that this brave new world of disruptive innovation presents serious challenges. Advanced surveillance technologies, new data-sharing practices, privacy issues, and emergent technologies, such as emotional AI, all raise fundamental questions about economic, social and cultural rights, and even human agency in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Programme

Opening Remarks	Lee Keum-ro: Vice-Minister of Justice, Republic of Korea
Congratulatory Remarks	Michael Reiterer: Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea
Session 1	The New Horizon of Personal Information Protection - New threats to data privacy and countermeasures to protect it - The tensions between privacy, the socioeconomic value of personal information, and policy measures
Moderator	Ilcheong Yi: Senior Research Coordinator, UNRISD
Presentation	Changrok Soh: Director of Korea University Human Rights Center, Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee
	Daragh Murray: Human Rights Centre and School of Law, University of Essex
Discussion	Borami Kim: Lawyer, Law Firm Nanum
	Daehee Lee: Professor of Law, Korea University
	Yoo Hyang Kim: Director, Science, Media and Telecommunications Team, National Assembly Research Service
Session 2	The Emergence of New Technologies and the Future of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - The impact of scientific and technological development on economic, social and cultural rights and the limitations of the current legal system - Plans for human-oriented and environmentally friendly scientific and technological development
Moderator	Heisoo Shin: Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (CESCR)
Presentation	Anna Diamantopolou: President of DIKTIO Network for Reform in Greece and Europe, former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities in the Prodi Commission, former Greek Minister of Education and Minister for Development, Competitiveness and Shipping
	Maria Mexi: Senior Research Fellow, Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Geneva
Discussion	Chang-yup Kim: Professor, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University
	Balázs Horváth: Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre
	Sophia Seung-yoon Lee: Professor, Department of Social Welfare, Ewha Women's University
General Discussion
Moderator	Heisoo Shin: Member of the UN Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights (CESCR)

Expected outcomes

The discussions are expected to assist the government of the Republic of Korea as it prepares to address the problems identified, and through the participation of members of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee may also feed into UN efforts to promote and protect human rights around the world.

Further UNRISD research

UNRISD's participation in this Symposium is part of its activities to further develop research ideas related to human rights and new technologies. The topic is a combination of two projects in the UNRISD Ideas Incubator, combining elements of Social Policy 2.0 and The Gig Economy and Social Security and was the subject of a recent Project Development Workshop held in Geneva. UNRISD is actively seeking partners to engage with these projects. If you would like to join us, please get in touch with Ilcheong Yi or Kelly Stetter.