WSIS Forum 2026

Public Trust and AI Procurement: From Principles to Practice

6 July 2026 | 09:00–09:45 | ITU Room L1, Geneva

Organized by AI & Equality by Women at the Table; University of Cambridge; RC Trust, UA Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen; and the Council of Europe

Governments are buying AI systems without the tools to buy them responsibly. Procurement represents a significant share of public spending and a critical entry point for AI in society — yet it remains under-governed. While global processes like the Global Digital Compact and the Council of Europe AI Convention advance principles, operational tools for procurement remain limited. Drawing on new research, this session introduces a public trust framework for AI procurement and maps concrete mechanisms — auditability, documentation, risk assessment — to embed human rights and transparency upstream, before systems are deployed.

Speakers: 

• Emma Kallina, Public Sector Lead, AI & Equality by Women at the Table
• Albina Ovcearenco, Head of Digital Development Unit and Secretary to the Committee on Digital & New Emerging Technologies (CDNET), Council of Europe
• Tim Davies, Research & Practice Director, Connected By Data,
• Caitlin Kraft-Buchman, CEO / Founder, Women at the Table (W@TT)