1 September 2026
Human rights law is a frequently cited example of other law that applies in armed conflict, but we must also be mindful of international maritime law, international air and space law, the law of state responsibility, and other areas of law. To support the mention of both international law and international humanitarian law, We can …
2 September 2026
On paragraph 39, incorporation of language drawn from Article 36 of Additional Protocol I, specifically study, development, acquisition or adoption, as is this room, my country is not party to that protocol. We do not believe language specific to one treaty regime should be imported into a document intended to reflect common understanding across all …
2 September 2026
IHLYI also welcomes paragraph 39, particularly its recognition of the need for legal reviews as appropriate across the life cycle of laws and in accordance with states obligations under international law. In this context, we would like to reiterate an issue that IHLYI has consistently raised in its previous interventions concerning the role and responsibilities …
2 September 2026
On paragraph 39, my delegation, like those of Pakistan and the ICRC, believe that this is one of the essential elements of the text. We believe that is particularly true with regards to 39 which addresses how the obligation of legal reviews applies specifically to LAWS which are systems that have a nature of continuous …
2 September 2026
I’m delivering this intervention on behalf of the delegation of the Asia Pacific Institute for Law and Security, APILS, and my own delegation, Utrecht University. We welcome the revised language concerning legal reviews in paragraph 39. The paragraph now consolidates the text on legal reviews and separates it from other measures mentioned in subsequent paragraphs …
31 August 2026
… The provision concerning responsible chains of human command and control, limitations on targets and operational parameters, timely deactivation or neutralization, legal reviews, testing and evaluation, predictability, reliability, traceability, explainability, and the mitigation of unintended and automation bias are essential. …
2 September 2026
And we would also add that paragraph 34, which is an extremely narrow prohibition since it only kicks in at the manufacturing level, does not contradict paragraph 39 on legal reviews, but rather complements it or works in tandem with it. … If a legal review concludes that a weapon system cannot be used in …
2 September 2026
… my delegation supports the elaboration of the conduct of legal reviews in paragraph 39(a).
2 September 2026
On paragraph 39, We support the proposed amendments and the alignment with the text of Article 36 of Additional Protocol I. Together with the chapeau, we are very close to Guiding Principle (e), which is now adapted to specifically address LAWS. Switzerland cannot support proposals to delete paragraph (b). In our view, the further development …
2 September 2026
With regard to part 39, we support the current formulation, which emphasizes the need to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law through legal review mechanisms applied throughout the entire life cycle of lethal autonomous weapon systems, including in the event of any significant changes affecting their core functions.
1 September 2026
… On a positive note, we welcome the restoration of article 36 consistent trigger language at paragraph 38 ….
1 September 2026
We also welcome the clarification that human beings may exercise such control directly or indirectly. We understand this wording as recognizing that relevant human judgment may be exercised at different stages of a system’s lifecycle, including during legal review, testing and evaluation, and in preparation for a system’s deployment. In particular, such judgment may be …
2 September 2026
And we see para 34 fully in line with para 39 and appreciate the paragraph following the logic of Article 36 that weapons systems that have been reviewed as not complying with IHL would not be acquired, stockpiled or transferred. That we assess also has the necessary exceptions included to accommodate the concerns raised about …
4 September 2026
We further place on record our understanding that formulations expressed as must in the current text including but not limited to paragraphs 31, 32, 34, 37, 41, 42 as they stand, are intended to reflect existing obligations and apply to each state only in accordance with and to the extent of that state’s own obligations …
2 September 2026
I do want to dwell on it a moment though because it seems to be particularly important to us. The obligation of a legal review is not the only legal obligation when it comes to the study, development, acquisition or adoption of LAWS. According to article 36 of AP I, any modification that alters the …
2 September 2026
For example, the obligation in the 1977 Additional Protocol I mentions specific stages of the life cycle. We also think it is critical to add the word new, which is used in the 1977 Additional Protocol I. Legal reviews are conducted of new weapons. Rather than trying to renegotiate these issues, we believe a better …
