UNESCO has released the world’s first comprehensive guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence in courts and tribunals, aiming to help justice systems adopt AI responsibly while safeguarding the rule of law and fundamental rights.

The publication, titled Guidelines for the Use of AI Systems in Courts and Tribunals, outlines how AI can expand access to justice, streamline case management, and support judicial decision-making. UNESCO emphasises that, despite these benefits, AI also introduces complex ethical and human rights risks that justice systems must address.

The Guidelines set out fifteen universal principles covering transparency, accountability, human oversight, human rights protection, and multistakeholder governance.

They offer practical direction for judges, court administrators, and policymakers considering the integration of AI tools. UNESCO stresses that courts should treat AI as an assistive—never substitutive—technology, used responsibly and always under meaningful human supervision.

UNESCO developed the Guidelines following extensive global consultations with experts from more than 160 countries, involving over 36,000 judicial actors.

The organisation also produced a capacity-building toolkit to support courts interested in adopting AI.

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in judicial systems worldwide, UNESCO says the Guidelines provide timely support to strengthen justice, transparency, and public trust, reinforcing what it calls “the defences of peace in the minds of men and women.”