The project “AEQUITAS – Preparing Civil Society Organisations and the public health care sector to address gender and racial bias that may arise from the widespread use of AI to protect and promote fundamental rights” is implemented by a consortium of nine organisations: Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) (coordinator), Diotima Center, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln (UKK), Innovation Hive (INNOHIVE), Citizens in Power (CIP), Women’s Issues Information Centre (WIIC), Lobby Europeo de Mujeres en España (LEM), TIA Formazione Internazionale APS, Health Citizens European Institute. The project is funded by the European Union – CERV-2024-CHAR. Visit the project’s website here. here.

Aim

The AEQUITAS project aims to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: the rise of gender and racial biases in biomedical Artificial Intelligence. As AI tools are increasingly used in healthcare to assist diagnosis and treatment, biased datasets can lead to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and ultimately violations of the fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

AEQUITAS brings together civil society organisations, healthcare institutions, and academic experts from across Europe to build capacity, raise awareness, and propose solutions.

Main goals

• Empower civil society organisations: Strength their ability to educate the public, monitor AI-related biases, and advocate for the protection of fundamental rights.
• Train healthcare professionals: Equip staff in public hospitals with the knowledge and tools to critically engage with AI systems and recognise potential biases in cardiovascular disease, depression, and diabetes diagnoses.
• Develop practical tools: Create the AEQUITAS Database, a Bias Report, and an AI Regulatory Model to support hospitals and CSOs in addressing discrimination in biomedical AI.
• Influence policies and build networks: Produce policy recommendations for decision-makers and establish a European network of CSOs and hospitals to collaborate on protecting rights in the AI era.

Activities

• Mapping of gender and racial biases in biomedical AI and database and guidelines development, following the principles of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights
• Training of healthcare staff on how to use the database and the guidelines
• Capacity building of civil society and human rights organisations on the use of the principles of the Charter when dealing with AI gender biases in the public health sector
• Policy recommendations and training workshop for policymakers and lawyers
• Dissemination and awareness raising events on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in the AI era

Expected results

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

• 240 representatives will strengthen their capacity to educate, advocate, and monitor gender and racial bias in biomedical AI, helping safeguard EU fundamental rights
• 120 organizations are expected to join the AEQUITAS Network, building stronger collaboration among CSOs to promote fundamental rights in the AI era.

HEALTHCARE STAFF WORKING IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS

• 190 healthcare staff will participate in the training sessions
• 64 public hospitals will become part of the AEQUITAS Network

POLICYMAKERS AND LAWYERS

• 160 policymakers and lawyers will participate in the capacity building sessions
• 400 policymakers, relevant associations and field professionals reached to distribute the policy recommendations

GENERAL PUBLIC

• Increased awareness and targeted information through: the project website and social media platforms and the participation in informatiον activities
• Expanded European cooperation network involving people and organizations interested in the project’s topic.