In my remarks I will focus on the opportunity that High Contracting Parties have today – as they did at the CCW's inception – to progressively develop international humanitarian law in a way that prevents serious humanitarian risks stemming from new weapons. This is the raison d'être of the Convention, and you have an opportunity to demonstrate its continued relevance by achieving that objective.
During eight years of CCW discussions on autonomous weapon systems, our understanding of the risks – humanitarian, legal and ethical – has deepened. Difficulties in anticipating the effects of these weapons raise the prospect of stark consequences for civilians and combatants hors de combat.
Their expanded use risks falling short of the requirements of international humanitarian law as a result of the loss of human control and judgement in the use of force. Fundamentally, autonomous weapon systems raise ethical concerns for society about substituting human decisions about life and death with sensor, software and machine processes.
The ICRC's view is that an urgent and effective international response is needed to address the serious risks posed by autonomous weapon systems. This Review Conference is a key diplomatic juncture for the work of the CCW, and I call upon you all to rise to the occasion.
Responsible choices about the future of warfare are needed, including clear and legally binding boundaries to prohibit autonomous weapons systems that are unpredictable or designed to target humans, and strict regulation of the design and use of all others.
There is widespread and growing support among states, scientists and technologists and members of civil society for action to ensure that humans remain in control and retain judgement in the use of force. And they must do so in manner that is meaningful and sufficient to faithfully implement their legal obligations and to assume their ethical responsibilities.
In May, I shared with you our view that this requires prohibiting autonomous weapon systems that pose unacceptable risks – unpredictable autonomous weapons and those used to target people directly – while strictly regulating all others to ensure human control sufficient for compliance with international law and ethical acceptability.
We do not have a monopoly on solutions, but we do hope that our recommendations can help you forge agreement on a necessary political response at the international level.