Deadline for application: 1 December 2025

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping societies and creating new opportunities for efficiency and innovation. However, these developments present significant ethical challenges, particularly in protecting fundamental human rights. Issues such as algorithmic bias, discrimination, and fairness highlight the disproportionate effects AI can have on marginalised communities. The tension between public safety and personal freedom becomes especially critical as AI technologies are increasingly integrated into vital sectors, including criminal justice, healthcare, and labour.

The international community continues to grapple with the challenges posed by AI advancements. In December 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the Security Council, stating, “Humanity’s fate can’t be left to algorithms.” He stressed the urgent need for global AI governance, warning that the rapid pace of AI development is outpacing regulatory efforts, increasing risks to global peace and security. The Secretary-General Guterres highlighted critical concerns, including safety, equality, accountability, and the need to maintain human oversight in AI-driven decision-making.

The need to advance knowledge on AI and challenges associated with the protection of human rights and ethical principles is becoming increasingly urgent. It is equally essential to foster the development of a new generation of experts equipped to tackle today’s challenges while anticipating those of the future. In response to this need, and following the success of the inaugural Summer School on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ethics and Human Rights, UNICRI and LUMSA Human Academy are hosting a unique and specialised course dedicated to these critical topics.

The Winter School offers comprehensive knowledge of the main scientific aspects of AI—including its definition, key characteristics, recent developments, and innovations—as well as the emerging ethical questions and their impact on human rights in today's landscape.

Participants will engage with key ethical principles and values surrounding AI, such as:

They will examine how these principles and values should guide our actions throughout the entire AI lifecycle - from design and development to deployment and real-world application. The objective is to illustrate how technologies may pose risks to or help safeguard human dignity from a human-centric perspective. 
Over the week, participants will delve into the philosophical and legal frameworks governing AI and human rights in the international context, exploring recent regulations in Europe (AI Act, 2024) and outlining how international human rights law applies to AI technologies.

The course will then focus on critical issues such as algorithmic bias, discrimination, and inequalities in AI systems; it will emphasize their impact on marginalized communities and society, while also highlighting the tension between public safety and personal freedom in an increasingly data-driven world. It will also address the ethical responsibilities of governments, societies, and individuals in mitigating the risks associated with AI and its impact on specific fields. Additionally, the course will address neuro-AI – the intersection of neurotechnologies and AI – and examine specific case studies in healthcare, criminal justice, and labour rights, focusing on sector-specific vulnerabilities. 

By the end of the course, participants will have developed a nuanced understanding of the complex relationship between AI, ethics, and human rights, equipping them with interdisciplinary knowledge and critical awareness to evaluate AI's role in society.

Through lectures, document analysis, case studies, interactive debates, and expert insights, participants will explore ways to ensure that AI is developed and deployed with a strong emphasis on ethical considerations and respect for human rights. This dynamic learning environment will engage and empower participants to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on how the international community can balance scientific and technological innovation with fairness and justice whilst maintaining a human-centric approach.
This course will take place within the AI Literacy Programme, conducted by UNICRI through its Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in The Hague, The Netherlands, since 2016. The programme promotes awareness of AI’s risks and benefits through a human rights-based approach, fostering practical coordination, knowledge-sharing, and public engagement. This Centre is dedicated to the responsible development and use of AI and robotics from the perspective of crime and security, focusing on awareness-raising, education, information exchange, and stakeholder harmonisation.

In 2024, LUMSA University established the Center for Bioethics and Digital Transition in Rome, which promotes an interdisciplinary dialogue encompassing informatics, human and social sciences, ethics, law, and politics. Its goal is to reflect on the theoretical foundations and practical application of a human-centric perspective to AI. The Center coordinates European and international research projects on AI ethics in medicine and the workplace, with a specific focus on vulnerabilities.

The course is designed for university students, postgraduates, PhD candidates, professionals, UN personnel, and AI enthusiasts interested in exploring the intersection of AI, ethics, and human rights.

The Winter School offers professional, legal, social, scientific, and academic perspectives through lectures, interactive debates, case studies, and expert insights. The faculty of the Winter School comprises leading scholars and academics from LUMSA and other universities, along with representatives from the United Nations system, international human rights bodies, and civil society organisations.
Whether attending the course in person at the LUMSA Human Academy’s beautiful premises in the heart of Rome (Italy), or through a dedicated online platform, participants will have the opportunity to interact with internationally recognised experts and peers from all over the world, exchange views and opinions, and build lasting professional relationships. The Winter School experience aims to foster intercultural dialogue and promote a deeper understanding of some of the world’s most complex and debated issues.
 

Relevant information

1. Entry requirements

The course is intended for university and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, United Nations (UN) personnel, and AI enthusiasts interested in exploring the intersection of AI, ethics, and human rights.
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be enrolled in, or have completed, a first university degree program (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).

• Possess a strong command of the English language.
   

2. Course methodology

The Winter School adopts a hybrid model of learning, which allows participants to attend lectures either in person or virtually through their own devices to accommodate individual needs.
Classes will be delivered live at LUMSA Human Academy in Rome (Italy) for those attending on-site and will be streamed for those joining remotely. Special attention will be devoted to ensuring synchronous and seamless interaction between instructors and participants, both online and in class.
The class schedule may be subject to change to include additional activities, which will be communicated before the course begins. Absences resulting from inadequate planning will not be considered justified. Participants who do not complete the course will not be entitled to a certificate, refunds, or reductions in registration fees.

 

In-person modality

Classes will take place at LUMSA Human Academy in Rome (Italy) from Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CET.
 

Online modality

Classes will be streamed via a dedicated online platform from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm CET from Monday to Friday. Online participants are expected to adjust their schedules to fully participate in the classes, irrespective of the time zones they are in.
Participants need a computer (recommended) or mobile device with audio and video capabilities, a headset with a microphone to connect to the audio through the computer or mobile device, as well as a reliable internet connection. It is recommended to access audio through the computer. No special software is required. Upon acceptance to the course, participants will be provided with information on how to access the platform.

 

3. How to apply

The selection is carried out on a rolling basis.
Please click on this link and follow the instructions to apply through the LUMSA Human Academy portal. If you need any assistance, you can contact us via email (contact details below).

Applicants requiring a VISA (IMPORTANT)
Applicants wishing to attend in person and requiring a visa are advised to submit an early application (preferably by 1 October 2025) and notify the Administrative Office of this circumstance. The visa will be issued by the competent Italian Diplomatic Authorities in the countries of nationality or residence of participants or the relevant Visa Application Centre.
Please note that booking an appointment with the competent Italian Diplomatic Authorities or the Visa Application Centre may take up to 3 months, and issuing a visa takes approximately 30 days. Neither UNICRI nor LUMSA Human Academy can be held accountable in the event of visa refusal.
 

4. Registration Fees

In-person modality: 1,000 Euro.

Online modality: 800 Euro.

Registration fee includes:

• Tuition
• Course materials
• Lecture recordings (upon request)

5. Cancellation and refunds

In the event of a participant’s cancellation for any reason, including visa denial, registration fees will not be refunded.

 

6. Certificate of participation

Upon completion of the entire Winter School programme, participants will receive a certificate of participation jointly issued by the United Nations and LUMSA Human Academy. The organisers may, at their discretion, consider exceptional circumstances for absences when determining eligibility for the certificate.
 

7. Contacts

Email: unicri.courses@un.org – (please indicate “Artificial Intelligence” in the subject of the email)
UNICRI: +39 06 6789 907

The world we live in today is increasingly complex and volatile, shaped by evolving threats and rapid technological advancement. Criminal actors respond rapidly to these changes, posing growing challenges to those tasked with investigating and prosecuting crime. Among the most difficult cases are those involving the deliberate use of hazardous chemical and biological (CB) agents to harm people, animals, the environment, or disrupt societal functions.

Effective responses to such threats require strong coordination across agencies and disciplines. The chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) field is characterised by technical procedures, scientific terminology, and specialised legal frameworks. Prosecutors and investigators need not only an understanding of these complexities, but also the appropriate tools and expertise to enable effective legal action.

UNICRI, in close collaboration with international partners and stakeholders, identified the need to advance guidance in this area. To this end, the Institute brought together regional and international CBRN experts, senior prosecutors, and legal practitioners to develop the first edition of the Prosecutors Guide to Chemical and Biological Crimes.

The Guide is designed to assist prosecutors, law enforcement, and relevant agencies in the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving the deliberate production, stockpiling, transfer, or use of chemical and biological agents. It offers non-binding, high-level guidance on key legal and procedural considerations and their implications for prosecution. It also lays the groundwork for follow-up initiatives, including practical training and capacity building.

We are grateful to the European Commission for supporting the development of this Guide under the European Union Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centres of Excellence Initiative (EU CBRN CoE). The initiative arose from two projects in Southeast and Eastern Europe aimed at enhancing the forensic capacities of partner countries.

At UNICRI, we are committed to addressing the needs and priorities of our Member States through sustainable programmes that integrate theoretical knowledge with practical tools, including tailored training, educational videos, and e-learning platforms.

We trust that this Guide will help strengthen the knowledge, institutional frameworks, and legal mechanisms necessary to support prosecutors and investigators in their pursuit of justice and accountability.

Read the Guide in different languages:

دليل المدعي العام  لجرائم الكيمياء  والأحياء المجرمة (ARA)

A Prosecutor's Guide  to Chemical and  Biological Crimes (EN)

Руководство для прокуроров по  преступлениям, связанным с применением химических и биологических веществ (RUS)

The Way Forward: From CBRN Crime Scene to Courtroom: A New Standard for Legal Preparedness

Building on the Prosecutors Guide on Chemical and Biological Crimes and the Prosecutors Guide on Radiological and Nuclear Crimes, a significant step forward was taken in 2024 with the launch of the From CBRN Crime Scene to Courtroom initiative. Fully funded by the European Commission’s Foreign Policy Instruments and developed under the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence (CoE) Initiative, this pilot programme is helping set new benchmarks in both forensic practices and judicial preparedness.

A key innovation is the programme’s emphasis on the admissibility of forensic evidence in court - an aspect often overlooked in traditional CBRN capacity-building efforts. Training addresses core legal and procedural issues such as expert witness preparation, evidentiary reporting, forensic expert credibility, and maintaining the chain of custody. These elements are essential to ensuring that investigative findings can withstand legal scrutiny.

The training is structured around five interlinked modules:

Table-Top Exercise – Introduces foundational CBRN concepts, promotes inter-agency coordination, and identifies key needs and priorities.

CBRN Criminalisation Workshop – Explores international legal frameworks for defining and prosecuting CBRN-related offences.

Building a Case for Prosecution – Provides tools to transform forensic results into effective legal arguments.

Mock Trial / Moot Court – Tests participants’ knowledge through realistic simulations using adapted national legislation.

Train-the-Trainer – Ensures sustainability by empowering national actors to deliver future training.

All modules have been successfully implemented in Moldova and Ukraine, confirming the programme’s feasibility and impact. As of early 2025, fourteen countries have requested to adopt the full package, officially titled Strengthening the CBRN Investigation, Prosecution, and Adjudication Capabilities.

From September 2025, the programme will shift to a regional delivery model, focusing on the Balkans and Gulf countries, to maximise outreach and relevance.

This initiative has been greatly enhanced by the participation of internationally recognised prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, and forensic experts, whose practical knowledge has been instrumental in translating complex scientific material into actionable legal strategies.