Statement / Malta Declaration 2025 on the Use of AI
RECOGNISING the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in reshaping our world, enhancing our capabilities, and improving our lives, and,
ACKNOWLEDGING the unprecedented risks and challenges it poses to life, individual rights, social justice, and global security,
We, the undersigned,
COMMIT to a collaborative, transparent, and ethical approach in the development, deployment, and governance of AI technologies, endorsing only the use of AI-enabled systems and services that are proven to:
- Ensure the Primacy and Sanctity of Human Life
- Respect Ethical Principles and Human Rights
- Adhere to International Security and Safety Standards
- Promote International Collaboration and Governance
- Adhere to International Privacy and Data Governance Standards
- Promote Innovation and Sustainability
- Respect for the Environment
These seven principles shall be directed within the powers of those charged with legal services to ensure that deployed AI-enabled systems and services are used to uphold, ensure and to promote them as follows:
- PRIMACY AND SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE
In practice:
1.1 Insofar as it is in our power, a human being must never be harmed nor should a human being ever, by inactivity, be allowed to come to harm.
1.2 That AI should always be under the ultimate control of a human being.
- RESPECT ETHICAL PRINCIPLES & HUMAN RIGHTS
In practice:
2.1 The upholding and enhancement of human rights, ensuring they do not infringe upon individual freedoms, privacy, or dignity.
2.2 Equity and Inclusion – to promote fairness and ensuring that AI benefits all segments of society without discrimination, and with permanent monitoring to eliminate biases.
2.3 Accountability and Transparency: To ensure that all AI are explainable, transparent, and subject to human oversight, with accessible mechanisms for redress.
- ADHERE TO INTERNATIONAL PRIVACY AND DATA GOVERNANCE STANDARDS
In practice:
3.1 Data Protection must have in-built robust data protection measures to safeguard personal and sensitive information against unauthorized access and breaches.
Commonwealth Lawyers Association – Declaration on the Use of AI
3.2 Consent and Autonomy: The ensuring of informed consent for data collection and use, respecting individuals’ autonomy and control over their personal data.
3.3 Data Minimization and strict adherence to the principle of data minimization, collecting only what is necessary for the intended purpose and ensuring data accuracy, which purpose shall not conflict with any of the principles hereof.
- ADHERE TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND SAFETY STANDARDS
In practice:
4.1 Security by Design: To apply security standards at every stage of AI development and deployment to protect against threats and to ensure the integrity of AI systems.
4.2 Risk Assessment: To identify potential harms and implement all measures to mitigate these risks.
4.3 Emergency Protocols: The use of protocols that enable an immediate response to AI-related accidents or misuse, and with mechanisms that allow for rapid deactivation and remediation.
- PROMOTE INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY
In practice:
5.1 Sustainable Development: to ensure alignment with sustainable development goals, and the promotion of environmental stewardship and resource efficiency.
5.2 Open Innovation: To encourage the sharing of knowledge among stakeholders to foster innovation and accessibility.
5.3 Future-Oriented Governance: Using only AI-enabled systems and services designed under adaptive governance structures that can accommodate the evolving nature of AI, ensuring that the resulting systems and services remain flexible and inclusive of diverse perspectives.
- PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND GOVERNANCE
In practice:
6.1 Global Standards: To ensure that Providers who are actively working towards the establishment of global standards and norms for AI that respect cultural diversity while promoting universal ethical principles.
6.2 Cross Border Cooperation: To ensure that Providers, actively working towards enhancing international cooperation in AI research, development, and regulation, facilitate knowledge exchange and providing mutual assistance.
6.3 Multistakeholder Engagement: To ensure that Providers who are actively engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, private sector, academia, civil society, and the public, in the governance of AI to maintain comprehensive and balanced perspectives.
- RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
In practice:
7.1 That AI services and systems be deployed in such a way as to minimise any negative environmental impact.
Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA)
9th April 2025
NOTE TO EDITORS
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association is an international non-profit organisation which exists to promote and maintain the rule of law throughout the Commonwealth by ensuring that an independent and efficient legal profession, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity, serves the people of the Commonwealth. commonwealthlawyers.com
View the full Declaration here
