UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference Sets Global Standards for Technology and Ethics

UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference closed with landmark outcomes that are expected to shape global governance in science, culture, and technology for years to come. Held for the first time in more than four decades outside the Organization’s Paris headquarters, the Samarkand session reaffirmed UNESCO’s ambition to act as a global platform for cooperation at a moment when rapid technological change demands new international standards. 

The most significant development was the adoption of the world’s first global Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology, a comprehensive framework designed to guide governments as advances in brain–computer interfaces, neural data collection, and other neurotechnological tools accelerate. The Recommendation establishes mental privacy, human dignity, and the protection of fundamental rights as core principles, recognizing neural data as sensitive personal information and emphasizing the need for strict conditions for free and informed consent. It also cautions against non-therapeutic uses of neurotechnology on vulnerable groups and urges governments to regulate emerging consumer devices so that innovation does not outpace ethical oversight.

The General Conference was marked by key institutional developments, including the confirmation of Khaled El-Enany as UNESCO’s new Director-General. His appointment comes at a crucial moment as the Organization expands its role in global technology governance while continuing to reinforce its work in education, culture, and heritage. Events in Samarkand also showcased the breadth of UNESCO’s mandate. The inaugural UNESCO–Uzbekistan Beruniy Prize celebrated advances in AI ethics, while Kenya’s Wazee wa Mazingira received the Melina Mercouri Prize for their stewardship of the Mount Kulal Biosphere Reserve. Ministerial dialogues, cultural activities, and expert exchanges throughout the Conference highlighted the need for stronger international cooperation in an increasingly interconnected world.

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