June 4, 2025 – Dr. Bhavani Rao, UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and Director of AMMACHI Labs and the Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality, was a featured keynote speaker at the D4D Hub’s Gender & Digital Rights Webinar Series. The session focused on a critical and timely theme: “Gender and Ethnicity Bias in Artificial Intelligence.”

Drawing from years of grassroots experience in India, Dr. Rao shared inclusive frameworks and practical interventions that challenge bias in digital systems and amplify the voices of underrepresented communities. Her talk addressed two pressing questions:

• How do gender and ethnicity biases emerge in AI systems?

• What are the real-world consequences for vulnerable populations?

The session also fostered a wider dialogue around:

• The role of public policy and ethical frameworks in addressing AI bias

• Private sector accountability in ensuring fairness and equity

• Case studies and impact stories from D4D Hub Member States advancing ethical digital development

Dr. Rao was joined by a panel of global thought leaders, including Mark David Longar, AI Researcher at the OECD, who contributed insights on the international regulatory landscape and the need for multi-stakeholder cooperation.

This webinar was part of the D4D Hub’s continuing commitment under the European Union’s Global Gateway Strategy, aiming to foster a digital transformation that is inclusive, sustainable, and ethical.

“Bias in AI is not just a technical flaw—it is a social justice issue. We must design AI that reflects the diversity of our world and protects the most vulnerable,” emphasized Dr. Rao during her address.

Through this platform, Dr. Rao spotlighted India’s leadership in developing people-centric digital tools—tools that empower rather than exclude, and promote gender equality at the heart of innovation.