A delegation from the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO), led by its Director General, H.E. Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, participated in the Lisbon Forum 2025, organized by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Global Governance: Rights, Representation, and Readiness.”
AICTO’s participation aimed to present a balanced Arab perspective on artificial intelligence and digital governance challenges, emphasizing practical, human-rights-based approaches and the importance of international cooperation in this vital field.
Contribution to the Euro–South Programme V Steering Committee
On 27 October 2025, AICTO took part in the concluding meeting of the Steering Committee of the Euro–South Programme V, presenting three key proposals to strengthen regional and international collaboration:
- Establishing a regular mechanism for information exchange between AICTO, programme task forces, and other regional organizations to avoid duplication and explore opportunities for joint funding.
- Leveraging AICTO’s platforms to disseminate best practices and training tools developed within the programme—such as the HELP Programme for Human Rights Education for Legal Professionals—to ensure sustainable regional adoption.
- Mobilizing AICTO’s network of technical experts to support programme activities related to e-governance, artificial intelligence, open data, and digital integrity, thereby enhancing transparency and institutional effectiveness.
Active Participation in Forum Sessions
During the Forum’s second session, held on 28 October 2025 under the title “Overcoming Implementation Challenges through AI Literacy,” AICTO presented its vision for translating human-rights-based AI strategies into practical measures that reflect the Arab region’s specific contexts and challenges.
The Organization emphasized the importance of strengthening AI awareness and capabilities among policymakers, legal professionals, and citizens—particularly by preparing younger generations to act responsibly and effectively in the digital space.
These efforts fall within the framework of ongoing cooperation between AICTO and the Council of Europe in key areas such as cybersecurity, combating cybercrime, and data governance.
Regional Workshop on Ethical AI Governance
AICTO concluded its participation by organizing a regional workshop titled “Building an Ethical, Inclusive, and Fair Governance Framework for Artificial Intelligence in the Arab Region” on 29 October 2025 in Lisbon, in collaboration with the Council of Europe.
The workshop aimed to assess the current state of AI adoption and governance in the Arab world and to explore strategies for developing ethical and inclusive governance frameworks that align with the region’s social and cultural specificities, while drawing on comparative international experiences.
In his address, H.E. Eng. Mohamed Ben Amor, Director General of AICTO, emphasized that the world is now living in the era of the “AI Society,” where technology is no longer merely a tool but a transformative force reshaping economies and societies. This, he noted, calls for sound governance that places human dignity at the heart of digital transformation.
He stressed that the greatest challenge lies in building trust through an Arab governance framework founded on three pillars: ethics, inclusiveness and fairness, and regulatory flexibility, ensuring equitable and responsible use of AI technologies.
H.E. Ben Amor also highlighted the importance of the Arab Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and the Arab Charter on AI Ethics as shared foundations for unifying Arab efforts and promoting regional integration.
He concluded by calling for collective action among governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and regional organizations to develop balanced legislative and ethical frameworks that guarantee the safe and responsible use of emerging technologies.
Closing his remarks, H.E. Ben Amor affirmed that this event, held within the framework of the Lisbon Forum 2025, represents a practical step from principles to implementation and an open invitation to strengthen Arab and international cooperation toward a human-centered and equitable governance of artificial intelligence that advances sustainable development and consolidates the Arab region’s position in the global digital economy.