Geneva talks: UN Sec Guterres urged for a law for LAWS

NEW DELHI: United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for new laws governing the deployment of autonomous weapons on Monday, December 13. For the past eight years, UN negotiators have been debating restrictions on Lethal Autonomous Weapons, or LAWS, which are totally machine-controlled and rely on cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence and facial recognition.

However, the pressure has risen as a result of a UN panel study released in March 2021, which claimed that the first autonomous drone assault may have already taken place in Libya.

Guterres, in his statement, encouraged the review conference to agree on an ambitious plan to limit the use of some types of autonomous weapons. The United States, China and Israel are among the 125 signatories to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

Amnesty International and other civil society organisations are urging governments to begin drafting an international convention and will deliver a petition to negotiators later Monday.

Clare Conboy, Media and Communication Manager, Stop Killer Robots remarked, “The pace of technology is truly beginning to surpass the velocity of diplomatic dialogue. This is a once-in-a-generation chance for states to take steps to protect mankind against autonomous use of force.”

The President of event and France’s Disarmament Ambassador Yann Hwang, has urged for “important and vital decisions” to be made this week. Diplomats think that the council, which requires unanimity, is unlikely to obtain an accord launching an international treaty since Russia and others are expected to reject such a move.