International convention (treaty)

Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law

This Framework Convention is a legally binding international treaty intended to ensure that activities within the lifecycle of AI systems are consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Unlike UNESCO’s ethics recommendation, a convention creates treaty obligations for states that consent to be bound, according to its provisions. It is not EU legislation. Consult the official Council of Europe treaty office texts for signature, ratification and entry-into-force status, which change over time.

Last reviewed 2026-08-22