Signs of Hope Trust

A successful first Global Dialogue on AI Governance would be one that meaningfully embeds inclusion, accessibility, and representation, not as side conversations, but as core principles shaping outcomes. Firstly, the dialogue must ensure self-representation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their organizations. The dialogue on Policies and frameworks on AI cannot be fully representative if those most at risk of exclusion are not shaping them. Secondly, accessibility must be intentional and comprehensive. This includes providing sign language interpretation, captioning, accessible documents, and user-friendly digital platforms. Thirdly, the dialogue should prioritize digital accessibility and openness by being live-streamed across multiple social media platforms. This ensures that individuals who cannot attend physically—particularly those in the Global South or with mobility and financial constraints—can still follow, engage, and contribute to the conversation. Finally, clear, actionable commitments that advance inclusive AI governance should be ensured as part of the outcome. This includes commitments to involve marginalized communities in policy development, invest in digital literacy, and ensure that AI systems are designed with diverse users in mind.

• Open-source software, open data and open AI models
• Protection and promotion of human rights
• AI capacity-building

The thematic areas I selected reflect my organization's commitment to advancing inclusive, rights-based, and equitable AI ecosystems, particularly for persons with disabilities. AI Capacity Building is a priority as persons with disabilities face barriers in accessing digital skills and critical literacy needed to engage with AI systems. Strengthening capacity ensures that people with disabilities are not only users but active participants in shaping AI. The social, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic, and technical implications of AI are central to my work, as AI systems often reflect existing inequalities. Language barriers, limited localization, and lack of accessibility features disproportionately exclude persons with disabilities, particularly in African contexts. Addressing these implications is key to ensuring that AI does not deepen the digital divide. The protection and promotion of human rights is critical, as AI systems increasingly influence access to information, public services, and civic participation. Without intentional safeguards, persons with disabilities risk further exclusion. A human rights-based approach ensures dignity, equity, and accountability in AI development and governance. Finally, open-source software, open data, and open AI models are essential for transparency, innovation, and inclusion. Open systems create opportunities for adaptation, localization, and the development of accessible solutions, particularly by and for marginalized communities. However, this must be accompanied by inclusive data practices to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left invisible within datasets.

While the listed thematic areas comprehensively cover many aspects of AI governance, I would have welcomed disability inclusion as a standalone thematic area, alongside gender and other dimensions of diversity. Persons with disabilities face unique barriers in accessing, using, and shaping AI technologies, and highlighting this explicitly would underscore the importance of designing AI systems that are universally accessible. I recognize that issues of disability inclusion and gender may be implicitly encompassed within the social, economic, ethical, cultural, linguistic, and technical implications of AI. However, making them explicit as cross-cutting themes would strengthen visibility, accountability, and policy prioritization for these groups. Standalone recognition would encourage targeted actions, dedicated resources, and proactive measures to ensure that AI development and governance do not inadvertently exacerbate existing inequalities. Inclusion, accessibility, and equity must be central to AI governance if it is to be genuinely representative and just. Explicitly naming disability inclusion as a priority would send a strong signal that marginalized communities are not an afterthought but active stakeholders in shaping the AI ecosystem.

In Zimbabwe and across the region, governance gaps in AI are increasingly shaping who benefits from technology and who is left behind. The lack of inclusive policies, data governance frameworks, and technical capacity disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, limiting their access to AI tools, participation in decision-making, and protection from algorithmic bias. One of the most significant challenges is the digital divide, when it comes to disability it is under researched and under documented. Most AI applications are designed without accessibility features or consideration for local languages, leaving persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups behind. Additionally, the absence of disability-disaggregated data prevents policymakers from designing interventions that address inequities, while limited capacity-building initiatives restrict the development of local expertise in AI governance and ethics. Despite these challenges, there are notable opportunities. As AI strategies and policies are still emerging in the region, this is an ideal moment to present research on disability and AI use, develop inclusive guidelines, and contribute to model policies or model laws that embed accessibility, equity, and human rights principles. The growing focus on open-source AI, open data, and inclusive innovation provides avenues to co-develop AI solutions that reflect local contexts and are accessible to all users. Strengthening AI capacity building can empower communities and civil society organizations to engage with AI systems meaningfully.

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Policy makers, Government Ministries that influence AI Governance,

I have mentioned Persons with Disability and their organizations - Deaf people are especially missing in the discourse

OECD AI Principles and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights AI for Good initiative (UN) and AI4D Africa train policymakers, developers, and civil society in responsible AI practices.