Working Paper 1.
Sponsors: Republic of Korea, Republic of Congo
Signatories: The State Of Israel, Republic of Burkina Faso, Kingdom of Afghanistan,
Libya, Republic of Cuba, The Republic of Angola, Kingdom of Cambodia, The United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, The Russian Federation, The French
Republic,
Topic: The need for countries who support placing regulations on LAWS and AWS, more
specifically pertaining to placing a ban on the further development of Automated Weapon
Systems without a HITS system integrated in it while preventing further proliferation of
AWS and establishing necessary regulatory frameworks to ensure they follow IHL and
other relevant conventions.
The General Assembly,
I. Preamble:
1. Reaffirming the principles of international humanitarian law and the Geneva
Conventions,
2. Noting with concern the rapid advancement in autonomous weapon technology and its
implications for global security,
3. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive framework to address the ethical, legal, and
operational challenges posed by autonomous weapons,
4. Emphasizing the importance of multilateral cooperation in ensuring the responsible use
of autonomous weapon systems,
II. Operative Clauses:
1. Calls upon members to adhere by the regulations governing the development, testing,
and deployment of autonomous weapon systems, ensuring compliance with international
humanitarian law,
2. Encourages the creation of an international treaty, the Autonomous Weapons
Regulation Treaty (AWRT), to provide guidelines and standards for the use of both lethal
and non-lethal autonomous weapons, including protocols for accountability and
oversight,
3. Requests the establishment of a global monitoring body, the Autonomous Weapons
Oversight Council (AWOC), under the auspices of the United Nations to oversee
compliance with the AWRT and facilitate information sharing among member states,
4. Supports the development of non-lethal autonomous technologies that prioritize the
protection of civilians and minimize harm in conflict zones,
5. Proposes
(i) the establishment of the Global Movement for Ethical AI and Robotics (GMEAR), an
international coalition of governments, NGOs, industry leaders, and civil society
organizations dedicated to promoting the ethical development and deployment of AI and
autonomous systems, focusing on transparency, accountability, and human rights,
(ii) The creation and ratification of The Autonomous Weapons Regulation Treaty
(AWRT), as added in the annexure of this document to provide necessary guidelines and
mechanisms for the use of AWS,
(iii) A two-tiered approach to AWS regulation. This involves outright prohibitions on
certain types of AWS while imposing restrictions and requirements on the development
and use of others. This approach aims to balance innovation in military technology with
humanitarian concerns and to prevent proliferation,
6. Recommends
(i) That the GMEAR initiate public awareness campaigns, educational programs, and
policies that advocate to ensure widespread understanding and support for ethical AI
practices, and to foster international dialogue on the responsible use of emerging
technologies,
(ii) That frequent meetings occur in the AWOC and GMEAR to discuss their progress
and concerns in the domain of AWS, and also show to the member states that they follow
the established treaties,
9. Urges the countries to acknowledge:
(i) Automated Weapon Systems should be designed to operate strictly under human
oversight (the extent of which is left up to the country in question to decide). Humans
should pre assess the proportionality of the different types of attacks and ensure the
system operates in an environment where civilians are in a minimal presence,
(ii) International Humanitarian Law (IHL) must provide a clear framework and must
lay down a clear guideline regarding the use of AWS. This includes that the systems used
are in compliance with the principles of distinction and proportionality in compliance
with Articles 35, 36, 48, and 51(5)(b) of additional protocol (1) of the Geneva
Conventions. Any states involved in the development and deployment of AWS, and
LAWS would have to undergo a mandatory full board review by AWOC to ensure they
follow the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in armed conflict, and
are in compliance with the International Humanitarian Law,
(iii) Personnel operating and developing AWS should receive rigorous training based on
the principles of the IHL, principles recommended by the GMEAR, AWOC and other
ethical principles regarding use of force,
(iv) All Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS) and Lethal Autonomous Weapon
Systems (LAWS) under development should be subject to rigorous testing protocols (as
suggested by GMEAR) and be trained using unbiased data. This approach is essential to
prevent target-centric killings, particularly those involving civilian casualties. Moreover,
they should be trained adequately in various scenarios to reduce the margin of error and
allow for clear distinction between unarmed civilians and armed combatants,
(v) The international community can ensure accountability for actions taken by AWS
and LAWS in conflict situations by establishing a legal framework that defines the
responsibilities of operators, commanders, and developers. This includes implementing
robust tracking and documentation systems for AWS/LAWS deployments, mandating
transparent reporting and review processes, and holding individuals and states
accountable through international legal mechanisms such as the respective domestic court
or The International Criminal Court (ICC) based on the severity of the action, for
violations of international humanitarian law.
Annexure:
1. AWOC
2. GMEAR
3. Autonomous Weapons Regulation Treaty (AWRT)