Ministry of Justice Organizes Workshop on AI, Rule of Law

Ministry of Justice Organizes Workshop on AI

The Center of Legal and Judicial Studies (CLJS) at the Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science and the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen, launched today a regional training workshop on global tools for Artificial Intelligence and the Rule of Law.

The event, attended by a number of Their Excellencies ministers, along with judges and public prosecution members from across the Arab world.

In his opening speech at the workshop, HE Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Ibrahim bin Ali Al Mohannadi stressed that the State of Qatar, upon the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, is committed to developing its justice systems to ensure the independence of the judiciary. He also noted that the country has been modernizing its legal systems to keep pace with the rapid developments across various sectors of society. Additionally, he highlighted how Qatar's judicial institutions have embraced technological advancements, updating their systems to maximize the benefits of the state's advanced infrastructure.

He added that Qatar is now a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence, with its universities and research institutions spearheading major projects in this area. Recognizing early on the importance of AI tools, Qatar has leveraged them to enhance its legal and judicial systems, aiming for a transition towards e-justice and the establishment of effective justice. He also mentioned that the Cabinet had issued Decision No. (10) of 2021, which established the Artificial Intelligence Committee tasked with implementing and overseeing the execution of Qatar's AI strategy.

His Excellency also highlighted the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which has accelerated the development of sciences and technologies across various fields. He emphasized the necessity for justice systems to keep pace with this rapid development, while also adapting legal frameworks to align with modern scientific approaches. This, he noted, compels us to embrace change and tackle challenges in order to harness the potential of modern AI technologies, strengthening the delivery of effective justice and ensuring its alignment with these swift changes.

He added that despite the legal challenges accompanying the emergence of artificial intelligence, and the legal debates it raises among legal scholars and legislators especially regarding whether robots should have legal personality and determining liability for AI-related damages these challenges should not hinder the exploration of opportunities to leverage this modern technology to facilitate judicial procedures and uphold the rule of law.

He also noted that the collaboration between the Ministry of Justice, UNESCO, and the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science in organizing this workshop aims to enhance Arab cooperation in utilizing AI technology in the justice sector. This effort is part of Qatar's broader efforts to keep pace with the latest scientific advancements and apply them to improve its judicial systems, benefiting the Arab world as a whole.

His Excellency expressed hope that Qatar's successful experience in this field would serve as a valuable resource for participants during the discussions and outcomes of the workshop, pointing out that this pioneering initiative will lay the groundwork for a new phase of optimal use of new technologies to advance our legal and judicial systems in the Arab world. 

Addressing the opening ceremony, HE Minister of Education and Higher Education and Chairperson of the Qatari National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, Lolwah bint Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khater, underlined the importance of the regional training workshop on the global training tools on Artificial Intelligence and the rule of law as a pioneering step toward utilizing the cutting-edge technology to achieve justice and deepen the rule of law in the Qatar community.

Her Excellency pointed out that the participants in this workshop share joint commitment to advancing the justice system to keep up with the epochal technological requirements, highlighting that holding this workshop, jointly between the Ministry of Justice, represented by the Legal and Judicial Studies Center, supported by UNESCO, and in collaboration with the  Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science (NCECS), reflects the ambitious vision of Qatar, which adopts technology as a means to achieve sustainable development in accordance with the Qatar National Vision 2030, in addition to affirming its commitment to actively engaging in the international agenda to promote noble human values.

She pointed out that AI today is a key tool in optimizing performance in the justice sector, through the analysis of big data, accelerating legal procedures, and supporting decision-making based on objective criteria, stating that despite the promising opportunities AI offers, it also carries significant responsibilities to ensure promoting the values of justice, protecting individuals' rights, and safeguarding human dignity.

Her Excellency noted the UNESCO recommendation on the ethics of AI which necessitates enhancing the judiciary's ability to make decisions regarding AI systems based on the rule of law, while considering the principles and regulations that support human rights and ensure the application of AI in a balanced way between innovation and the protection of human values, underscoring the importance of this program in outlining how the justice sector can benefit from these technologies while minimizing their risks to human rights.

In addition, Her Excellency praised the salient role played by the Ministry of Justice, represented by the Legal and Judicial Studies Center, in building national capacities to keep abreast of the rapid technological advancements, as well as the productive cooperation between NCECS and UNESCO, which reflects a shared commitment to developing vital sectors and enhancing efforts to achieve sustainable development in line with Qatar's National Vision.

For his part, HE UNESCO Representative for the Gulf States and Yemen and Director of the UNESCO Office in Doha Salah El Din Zaki Khaled, welcomed the participants in the regional workshop from ten Arab countries, namely Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, and Yemen, indicating that the event brings together legal experts from the Arab region to explore ways in which AI can shape the future of justice.

He pointed out that AI is no longer an abstract concept, but has become a tangible reality, which is revolutionizing diverse sectors, adding that notwithstanding the promising potential for efficiency and innovation, many nations still uncertain about its impact on judicial systems, as nations  just begun to realize the potential of AI as an ancillary tool in navigating an array of major challenges currently facing the judicial field.

HE Salah El Din Zaki Khaled highlighted that one of the foremost challenges is the huge backlog of cases, as many judicial systems in the region have begun to embrace digital transformation, underlining that in Qatar, for example, the Public Prosecution is leveraging AI tools to expedite and improve its work.

He also noted that AI could elevate this process even further by automating routine tasks such as document review and case management, highlighting that in Saudi Arabia, the judiciary is now conducting trials and issuing rulings online.

While nations are adopting these new technologies, they must also consider the risks they entail, particularly when it comes to justice and transparency, as  UNESCO has recently conducted a survey revealing that 44 percent of judges worldwide use AI tools such as ChatGPT in their work, whilst only 9 percent of them have received official guidance or capacity-building on how to leverage these tools responsibly, he outlined.

HE Salah El Din Zaki pointed out that this gap is disconcerting, as 7 out of 10 judicial professionals acknowledge the risks posed by AI systems, such as inaccuracies or biases that could affect legal outcomes, and for this reason, UNESCO launched its global initiative for judges and has worked on developing resources such as the Global Toolkit on AI and the Rule of Law.

Throughout the past decade, UNESCO has collaborated with more than 36,000 judicial entities from 160 countries to bolster their capacities in supporting international standards related to freedom of expression and access to information, and currently the role of AI in supporting the rule of law, His Excellency highlighted.

He affirmed that the training workshop was designed to serve as a knowledge sharing, where people can learn from each other's experiences on judicial governance, explore how nations are navigating these challenges, and identifying innovative solutions that respect human rights while simultaneously embracing technological advancements.

(QNA)