On 5 September 2026, the Council of Europe marks the second anniversary of the opening for signature of its Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the first-ever international legally binding treaty in this field. Two years after its opening for signature in Vilnius, the Convention has attracted 21 signatures from across Europe and beyond, including Switzerland, Canada, Japan, the United States of America and Uruguay, reflecting its global reach and the growing international commitment to ensuring that artificial intelligence is developed and used in accordance with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. A significant milestone was reached in May 2026 when the European Union ratified the Convention, becoming its first Party.
To mark the anniversary, the Council of Europe and the Albert Einstein School of Public Policy will hold a high-level conference, “Trustworthy AI for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law”, at ETH Zurich on 7 September, as the flagship event of the inaugural AI Governance Forum. Bringing together representatives of public authorities, academia, civil society and industry, the conference will examine how the Convention’s principles can be translated into practice, consider governance challenges arising from emerging technologies, and discuss Switzerland’s path towards implementation and ratification. The anniversary provides an opportunity both to take stock of the Convention’s growing international support and to advance the practical work needed to ensure that technological progress remains firmly anchored in the Council of Europe’s standards and values.
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