From “pink eyed terminators” to a clear-eyed response? UK policy on autonomo...

In this new paper, Article 36 analyses UK contributions to the discussion on ‘autonomy’ in weapons systems at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The UK’s political position that existing law is sufficient and no new regulation in this area is necessary obscures a policy orientation dispersed through its statements that has a strong emphasis and useful detail on human control over systems that apply force on the basis of sensors and machine calculations. Brought... Read more

Autonomy in weapons systems – considering approaches to regulation

This new short paper aims to assist thinking about the relationship between regulatory options and our conceptualisation of the subject matter in discussions on autonomy in weapons systems. The international discussion on autonomy in weapons systems is rendered challenging by diverse starting assumptions about both the parameters of the subject matter and the types of regulation that are being sought. The adoption of the wording ‘lethal autonomous weapons’ (LAWS) as an organising term in the... Read more

Rejecting calls to address only the “indiscriminate use” of explosive weapon...

During consultations on “elements” for a political declaration on the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, Geneva, 10 February 2020, a number of states called for a draft text to reflect their opinion that the issue be limited to only the “indiscriminate use” of explosive weapons in these contexts. Such an approach would serve to undermine the humanitarian value of a future declaration by reducing it to simply a... Read more

More than 70 states engage in discussions on political declaration

More than 70 states engage in discussions on political declaration Report on the second round of consultations in Geneva, 10 February 2020 States were actively engaged in the second round of consultations in Geneva, convened by Ireland and aimed at gathering input ahead of drafting an international political declaration to address the humanitarian impact from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. That engagement sets the scene for a challenging round of final negotiations... Read more