There is a reason why definitions of weapons are based on design in particular since they delineate more clearly the types of weapons under consideration and since they better reflect the element of intended circumstances of use which is a crucial element in defining and reviewing weapons. Statement by Israel (GGE LAWS, 4 September 2025)
As a cosponsor of Draft Protocol VI, Sierra Leone notes the significant convergence between that protocol and the rolling text, particularly regarding the application of international humanitarian law, the need for human control, prohibitions on certain systems, weapons reviews, human responsibility and risk mitigation. Statement by Sierra Leone (GGE LAWS, 3 March 2025, afternoon)
…ensuring IHL compliance must begin at the development stage. And right now many Delegations have pointed out—delegation of Italy also has pointed out—that Article 36 of the Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions do affirm the necessity of ensuring compliance with IHL from the inception stage of a weapon cycle. The very purpose of …
Article 36 itself states that, in the development of a new weapon, a High Contracting Party is under the obligation to determine whether its employment will be prohibited by [Additional] Protocol [I] or by any other applicable rule of international law, meaning the Article does not address legal obligations that instruct how to develop weapons …
I would draw your attention to our proposals in the 24th Draft Article, proposal joined by a number of other Delegations, where we have expressed the idea that autonomous weapons systems may only to be developed such that their effects and attacks are capable of being anticipated and controlled as required in their circumstances of …
Australia supports the inclusion of Paragraphs 1 to 4 in this box which addresses the legal review of LAWS to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law. We believe strengthening compliance with existing IHL including through Article 36 legal reviews is the most effective way to increase confidence and to manage legal risks that are associated …
[W]e also support to switch out “employment” to “development and use”. The whole life-cycle issue has been discussed also since a long time and this is something we definitely support. It is important as what we are doing here is upholding IHL, and IHL does not only apply to the use of force but it …
