Rules / International / multilateral

Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225)

Enacted, not yet in forceTreatyBinding

First legally binding international AI treaty: parties must ensure AI activities across the lifecycle respect human rights, democracy and the rule of law, with risk and impact management, transparency, oversight and remedies, applying fully to public authorities and, by party choice, to private actors. Opened for signature 5 Sep 2024; signatories include the EU, UK, US, Canada, Japan, Israel, Switzerland, Norway and Ukraine.

Why it matters

Not yet in force, but parties (incl. the EU via the AI Act) will be bound to maintain rights-based AI safeguards once it takes effect.

What it requires

Impact assessmentTransparency to usersHuman oversightBias and non-discriminationGovernment use of AI
SourceCouncil of Europe: https://www.coe.int/en/web/artificial-intelligence/the-framework-convention-on-artificial-intelligenceSecondary: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202601080 Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. Enters into force on the first day of the month after three months following five ratifications (including three CoE member states). The EU concluded it by Council Decision (EU) 2026/1080 of 21 Apr 2026 (OJ L 13.5.2026) and is the only party; a 25 Sep 2026 report confirms the treaty was not yet in force. The CoE treaty-office table blocks automated access.

Cite this record

Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225). Council of Europe. Status: Enacted, not yet in force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/intl-coe-framework-convention-ai-cets-225/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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