Against the backdrop of rapidly advancing technologies and ongoing intergovernmental negotiations on AI governance, UNIDIR is organizing an inter-faith dialogue to address pressing ethical considerations relating to the lifecycle of AI in the military domain.
As AI capabilities accelerate and are increasingly integrated across the security lifecycle, the international community faces an urgent need to ensure that governance approaches remain anchored in human dignity, international law and responsible practice. Faith-based ethics and moral traditions have long played an important role in the formulation of multilateral norms. An inter-faith exchange at this critical juncture of global security can help guide discussions towards a potentially unifying narrative that transcends borders and reinforces trust, responsibility and restraint in the development, deployment and use of AI in high-stakes security environments.
In the lead up to UNIDIR’s Global Conference on AI, Security and Ethics 2026, this dialogue seeks to explore pathways towards developing shared values and norms across faiths that can inform and support ongoing multilateral discussions on governance of AI in the military domain. It aims to lift the debate around AI, security and ethics beyond state-focused, technical discussions and to strengthen inclusive, multistakeholder engagement in these timely debates.
Agenda
14:00 – 14:15 | Welcome and opening remarks
- Robin Geiss, Director, UNIDIR
14:00 – 14:15 | Inter-faith panel discussion
- Father Ghislain-Marie Grange, o.p., Professor of Theology and Philosophy at the Institut Saint-Thomas d’Aquin Toulouse
- Leon Saltiel, Director of Diplomacy, UN Geneva and UNESCO, World Jewish Congress
- Mohamed Levrak, President, Interreligious Platform of Geneva; Deputy Director, Islamic Cultural Foundation of Geneva
- Sakyadeeta Nishanie, Buddhist Nun / Meditation Teacher, Buddhist Community Montenegro
- Swami Vedanishthananda, Spiritual Head and Director, Centre Védantique Genève
Moderated by Yasmin Afina, Researcher, Security and Technology Programme, UNIDIR
When and where
Friday, 12 June 2026 | 14:00 – 15:30 CEST | Villa Bocage, Palais des Nations, Geneva.
Check your local time here.
Participants
The event is open to representatives of States, international organizations, religious groups and civil society, as well as experts working on AI in the military domain and members of the general public.
RSVP
For in-person participation, please register here.
Please note, due to the venue’s limited space, registrations are subject to approval, which will be sent to your email address.