Countries Urged to Pursue International Treaty to Ban Killer Robots
A recent United Nations General Assembly resolution has called for countries to pursue negotiations on an international treaty to ban and regulate lethal autonomous weapons systems, also known as killer robots. Human Rights Watch is urging the countries that supported the resolution to take action and promote discussions on this critical issue.
The UN resolution, which garnered overwhelming support with 152 countries voting in favor, acknowledges the concerns and challenges posed by emerging technologies in the military sector, particularly artificial intelligence and autonomy in weapons systems. The resolution tasks UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with gathering input from nations and other stakeholders to address the humanitarian, legal, security, technological, and ethical implications of autonomous weapons systems. The Secretary-General is expected to present a report on the matter to the General Assembly by September.
The resolution has also paved the way for future action by including an agenda item on lethal autonomous weapons systems in the provisional agenda for the UN General Assembly in 2024. This platform will provide states with an opportunity to take concrete steps in addressing the issue.
Autonomous weapons systems have the ability to independently select and apply force to targets, relying on sensor processing rather than human control. The urgency highlighted in the UN resolution reinforces the need for the international community to grapple with the risks associated with removing human agency from the use of force.
Mary Wareham, the arms advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, emphasizes the broad support for the resolution as an indication of governments’ readiness to take action. She calls for swift progress in developing a new international treaty to address the challenges posed by killer robots.
The ban and regulation of lethal autonomous weapons systems are crucial steps in safeguarding humanitarian principles and preventing potential harm when such systems are deployed. By pursuing an international treaty, countries can work together to establish clear guidelines and ethical frameworks for the use of emerging technologies in warfare.
It is imperative that nations prioritize this issue and engage in meaningful discussions to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent the future development and deployment of killer robots. The international community must act swiftly to uphold human rights, maintain accountability, and mitigate the risks associated with autonomous weapons systems.
