Inclusion et anti-discrimination

Approximately 100 staff members from equality bodies, public authorities and independent regulators in Belgium, took part in the opening seminar of a new training course “Artificial Intelligence and Anti-discrimination”. The opening seminar on 6 October 2025 included exchanges with international experts on how to identify, prevent and address discrimination in AI systems, focusing on both the European landscape and the specific Belgian context.

The course consists of eight modules based on European human rights standards, including the EU AI Act and the Council of Europe Framework Convention on AI and human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Three of the eight modules address specific Belgian context, legislation and case studies. It encourages discussions on the role of equality bodies and regulators in safeguarding fundamental rights in the use of AI. By bringing together officials from different institutions. The training also fosters cross-sector exchange and supports a more coordinated approach to AI governance in Belgium.

This training course is developed and delivered in collaboration with Unia as part of the project “Upholding equality and non-discrimination by Equality bodies regarding the use of artificial intelligence in public administrations” which is co-funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by the Council of Europe, in co-operation with the European Commission.

Els Keytsman De Ronne from Unia highlights the importance of this training course: “As AI increasingly shapes our decisions, ensuring it respects equality is not optional — it is essential. This training equips staff of supervisors, administrations, and law makers with the required knowledge and marks a first step in addressing AI’s complexity and risks of discrimination.” The European Commission noted that “tackling algorithmic discrimination requires equality bodies to work together with data protection and market surveillance authorities, as foreseen under the AI Act, and to engage with public institutions and civil society when oversight needs to be strengthened.”

The project is implemented in cooperation with three European equality bodies: the Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities (Unia, Belgium), the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman (Finland), and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (Portugal).