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Kigali 19 February 2025– As AI reshapes the judiciary, UNESCO is at the forefront in equipping judicial actors with the tools to navigate this transformation. At the 3rd Annual EACJ Judicial Conference held on February 18–19. UNESCO hosted a high-level panel on AI and the Rule of Law, bringing together Chief Justices, Judges, legal experts, and policymakers from the East African Community (EAC). Under the theme "Justice, Ethics, and Enforcement of Decisions," the conference addressed AI’s impact on justice systems, regional judicial collaboration, and ethical integration to advance justice and sustainable development.

The session provided a vital platform for dialogue on AI’s role in judicial efficiency, legal education, ethical challenges, and practical implementation. Moderated by Aakriti Kharel, Communication and Information Specialist at UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa, the panel featured:

• Lady Justice Aisha Batala Naluzze, Judge at the High Court of Uganda
• Erick Shirimpumu, Vice Rector for Administration and Finance at the Institute of Legal Practice and Development (ILPD), Rwanda
• Florence Ogonjo, Tech Policy Researcher and Advocate at the High Court of Kenya
• Stella Murungi, Chief Digital Officer for the Justice Sector, Ministry of Justice, Rwanda

Their insights emphasized the need for AI integration in the judiciary while safeguarding fairness, transparency, and fundamental rights.

Kicking off the discussion, Lady Justice Aisha Batala Naluzze explored AI’s potential to enhance judicial efficiency while safeguarding fairness. She highlighted AI-powered case management systems, predictive analytics for legal research, and automated decision-support tools as game changers for regional judicial systems.

“Judicial officers should be mindful when applying AI, ensuring that procedural laws are not inadvertently altered,” Lady Justice Naluzze cautioned. “AI must complement judicial processes, not replace human judgment.”

She emphasized the need for practical ethical guidelines, judicial training, and regional cooperation to harmonize AI adoption across East Africa’s justice sector.

Equipping future legal professionals with AI literacy is critical for East Africa’s legal evolution.  Erick Shirimpumu emphasized the urgency of integrating AI studies into legal curricula.

“Legal education must evolve to include AI ethics, algorithmic bias, and data privacy,” Shirimpumu said. “We need pedagogical approaches that cultivate critical thinking, ensuring future lawyers and judges can interrogate AI’s role in justice delivery.”

He advocated for hands-on AI training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the creation of legal frameworks that accommodate AI’s evolving impact on justice.

Florence Ogonjo underscored the need for East Africa to develop AI solutions that uphold ethical integrity while driving innovation in judicial systems.

“AI-driven judicial systems must not only expedite legal processes but also uphold fairness, transparency, and fundamental rights,” Ogonjo noted. “The key legal challenge lies in ensuring accountability when AI influences judicial decisions. Who takes responsibility when an algorithm makes an error?”

To address these concerns, she highlighted the need for robust regulatory frameworks, transparency in AI decision-making, and mechanisms for redress when AI-generated decisions lead to injustices.

Concluding the panel, Stella Murungi shared Rwanda’s experience in deploying AI tools while maintaining public trust.

“Public trust is the cornerstone of AI adoption in judicial systems,” Murungi emphasized. “Governments must prioritize privacy, security, and fairness to ensure AI-driven justice systems serve citizens equitably.”

She outlined key strategies, including public awareness campaigns, strong data governance policies, and multi-stakeholder collaborations to refine AI applications in the judiciary.

The panel discussion highlighted key recommendations for integrating AI into judicial systems responsibly and effectively. The session emphasized the need for a balanced approach that ensures ethical oversight, legal integrity, and technological advancement.

1. Policy, Regulation and Certification: Develop and implement comprehensive policies, regulations and certification mechanisms to govern AI use in the judiciary, ensuring ethical and responsible deployment.
2. Bias Mitigation: Ensure AI systems used in legal proceedings are free from bias by employing high-quality, representative training data and rigorous validation processes.
3. Judicial Training: Provide targeted training programs for judges and judicial officers, including access to AI tools and specialized online courses tailored for East African courts.
4. AI Awareness: Enhance understanding of AI among legal professionals and the public to promote informed engagement with AI-driven legal processes.
5. Guidelines and Collaboration: Establish clear guidelines for AI use in the judiciary and create platforms for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and networking among legal and AI professionals.
6. Legal Education Reform: Integrate AI-related subjects, including ethics and bias, into law school curricula and offer continued education on AI for legal practitioners.
7. Interdisciplinary Cooperation: Strengthen collaboration between legal professionals, technologists, and AI researchers to support responsible AI adoption in legal systems.
8. Accountability Mechanisms: Establish clear accountability frameworks for AI-assisted legal decision-making, ensuring transparency and responsibility.
9. Public-Private Partnerships: Foster cooperation among governments, legal institutions, academia, and private sector stakeholders to invest in AI solutions tailored to East Africa’s legal landscape.
10. Regional AI Framework: Develop a regional AI framework through cross-border cooperation and establish a working group of think tanks to verify AI training data and improve AI system quality.

The UNESCO Programme on AI and the Rule of Law, under the Global Judges Initiative,  equips justice systems to both leverage AI for access to justice and make AI safe for society and human rights. A 2023 by UNESCO shows that that 93% of judiciary professionals are familiar with AI, whereas 44% integrate AI into their daily tasks. Yet, 91% of judicial operators report their institutions do not provide training or official guidelines on the responsible use of AI. In Africa, 90% of 32 countries requested capacity-building support on AI for the judiciary. Recognizing this, UNESCO created the and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) on AI and the Rule of Law and on Freedom of Expression, AI and Elections in multiple languages to equip judicial actors with the knowledge needed to uphold the rule of law in an AI-driven world.

To further support this effort, UNESCO developed draft , ensuring that AI integration in judicial systems aligns with principles of justice, human rights, and the rule of law. The engagement of the East African judicial community in this initiative marks a crucial step toward a more transparent, efficient, and accountable justice system. As AI continues to reshape legal landscapes, collaboration between policymakers, legal experts, and technologists is essential to ensure that AI serves justice rather than undermining it.