As artificial intelligence reshapes classrooms, services and digital spaces worldwide, UNICEF is urging global leaders to place children and young people at the heart of AI governance frameworks.

Ahead of the Global AI Summit and AI Impact Summit 2026, UNICEF has called for children’s rights to be embedded as a cross-cutting principle in global AI policy, recognising children not only as users but also as contributors and rights-holders within the AI ecosystem.

A generation already shaped by AI

Around one in three internet users globally is under 18. Children and adolescents are increasingly engaging with AI-powered learning tools, recommendation systems and assessment platforms as part of everyday life.

However, digital access remains uneven. In many regions, young people rely on shared devices, low-bandwidth connections and limited-language interfaces. Experts warn that AI systems designed without accounting for these realities risk reinforcing exclusion at scale.

Conversely, systems built with children’s contexts in mind are more likely to be trusted and sustained.

A child-rights-by-design approach

UNICEF advocates a “child-rights-by-design” framework. This would ensure that children’s rights to privacy, safety, participation and development apply fully in digital environments.

The approach includes child rights impact assessments for AI systems, transparent disclosures on AI usage, clear grievance redressal mechanisms and strong human oversight.

It also emphasises meaningful participation of children and young people in testing, auditing and shaping AI technologies in age-appropriate ways.

A leadership moment

UNICEF India has proposed that leaders explicitly recognise children and young people in summit declarations as key stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.

Recommendations include:

  • Ensuring age-adaptive, safe AI systems
  • Embedding strong data protection and transparency standards
  • Expanding inclusive access and AI literacy
  • Institutionalising youth participation in governance

As AI becomes integral to opportunity distribution, education and public services, governance choices made today will determine whether technology fosters inclusion or deepens inequality.