At a recent conference of Latin American and Caribbean states on the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons systems, more than 30 states endorsed the Belén Communiqué, the final outcome document of the conference.
The Belén Communiqué states that ‘It is paramount to maintain meaningful human control to prevent further dehumanization of warfare, as well as to ensure individual accountability and state responsibility’, as well as noting that ‘As new weapons technologies continue to be developed and used in armed conflicts, new prohibitions and regulations guided by International Law, including International Humanitarian Law and its principles, grounded in the principles of humanity and dictates of public conscience, and ethical perspectives, are urgently needed.’ The Communiqué acknowledges the need for further actions to ‘promote the urgent negotiation of an international legally binding instrument, with prohibitions and regulations with regard to autonomy in weapons systems, in order to ensure compliance with International Law, including International Humanitarian Law, and ethical perspectives, as well as the prevention of the social and humanitarian impact that autonomy in weapons systems entail.’
Stop Killer Robots response to the Communiqué can be read here.
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