Killer robots: Update from CCW Experts meeting

Aotearoa New Zealand Campaign to Stop Killer Robots

14 May 2014

"I urge delegates to take bold action. All too often international law only responds to atrocities and suffering once it has happened. You have the opportunity to take pre-emptive action and ensure that the ultimate decision to end life remains firmly under human control." - Opening remarks by Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems - full text below.

"From New Zealand’s perspective, it is important that these discussions consider not just specific technologies, or specific contexts in which technologies may be employed, but also more fundamental questions such as the role that we as humans need to play, in an increasingly automated future, in decisions to use lethal force. We look forward to considering these questions this week, and to contributing further to this evolving debate." - Statement by Joseph Ballard, Deputy Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, New Zealand - full text attached.

Regular updates on the meeting and photos are available at https://twitter.com/hashtag/ccwun (please note: you do not have to have a twitter account to read the messages).

Reaching Critical Will (RCW) is providing daily updates at http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/others/ccw/2014/ccwreport - the report on the first day is at http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/others/ccw/2014/ccwreport//8796-14-may-2014-vol-1-no-2 - as is Just Security, the first is at http://justsecurity.org/2014/05/13/start-inter-governmental-expert-meeting-autonomous-weapons - RCW are also uploading statements as soon as they are available at http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/others/ccw/2014/statements

Media coverage around the world is picking up, see for example, 'It’s Judgment Day for Killer Robots at the United Nations', Wall Street Journal, 13 May 2014 - http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/05/13/its-judgment-day-for-killer-robots-at-the-united-nations/

Acting Director-General of UNOG urges CCW meeting to take bold action towards addressing lethal autonomous weapons systems

UNOG
DG14/003E

13 May 2014

Following are the opening remarks made today by Michael Møller, Acting Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems at the Palais des Nations in Geneva:

“I have the pleasure of welcoming you to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and to the United Nations in the city of Geneva. I congratulate CCW States Parties and Ambassador Simon-Michel for taking on the emerging and important issue of lethal autonomous weapons systems.

One of the strengths of the CCW is its framework that allows for both discussing and negotiating on emerging challenges in the areas of conventional weapons and armed conflict. Without such an open framework, the opportunity for experts to meet and examine all aspects of autonomous weapons would no doubt have taken much longer.

I particularly appreciate the CCW’s open rules that allow for participation by United Nations organisations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, non-governmental organisations, experts and academics. With such open participation, there can be no better forum for addressing autonomous weapons.

It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the crucial work that has been carried out by the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots in bringing lethal autonomous weapons to the attention of States and into the United Nations. Within the Campaign, I wish to acknowledge the leadership of former Under-Secretary General for Disarmament, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, and Nobel Laureate, Ms. Jody Williams.

This Meeting of Experts is only a first step towards addressing lethal autonomous weapons. In doing so, I urge delegates to take bold action. All too often international law only responds to atrocities and suffering once it has happened. You have the opportunity to take pre-emptive action and ensure that the ultimate decision to end life remains firmly under human control.

In this regard, Protocol IV to the CCW prohibited the use of blinding laser weapons before they were ever deployed on the battlefield. Clearly, Protocol IV serves as an example to be followed again.

Geneva has a historical record that is second to none for achieving results in disarmament and international humanitarian law negotiations. Testimony to this are the Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions, the CCW and its Protocols, to name but a few examples. Geneva remains the home of disarmament and international humanitarian law and I look forward to CCW States Parties adding to this proud tradition. Thank you very much.”

ends

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