Killer Robots
Fully autonomous weapons, also known as "killer robots," would be able to select and engage targets without meaningful human control. Precursors to these weapons, such as armed drones, are being developed and deployed by nations including China, Israel, South Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are serious doubts that fully autonomous weapons would be capable of meeting international humanitarian law standards, including the rules of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity, while they would threaten the fundamental right to life and principle of human dignity. Human Rights Watch calls for a preemptive ban on the development, production, and use of fully autonomous weapons. Human Rights Watch is a founding member and serves as global coordinator of the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
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As the previous chair’s commonalities paper notes, the last CCW Review Conference established this Group of Governmental Experts “to explore and agree on possible recommendations on options” relating to lethal autonomous weapons systems.
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Stopping Killer Robots
Country Positions on Banning Fully Autonomous Weapons and Retaining Human Control
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News
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Killer Robots: Precedent for a Ban Treaty
Shared Concerns, Desire for Human Control Should Spur Regulation
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Statement on Options for the Way Forward, CCW Group of Governmental Experts on lethal autonomous weapons systems
Delivered by Mary Wareham, Advocacy Director
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Statement on Commonalities, CCW Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Digital Diplomacy Keeps Pressure on Killer Robots Challenge
Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, More Than 70 Countries Participate in Online Meeting
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Ringing the Alarm on Killer Robots
The International Community Should Launch Negotiations to Ban the Weapons
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Statement by the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots to the Convention on Conventional Weapons
Delivered by Mary Wareham, Human Rights Watch for the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots
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‘Killer Robots’ Debate Hits the Small Screen
Madam Secretary Grapples with Dilemmas Posed by Fully Autonomous Weapons
