At this stage, we are particularly interested in the existing obligation that all States Parties to [AP I] have to assess the compliance with IHL of all weapons, means and methods of warfare, including LAWS — through weapons reviews. These reviews serve as an existing barrier to the development and deployment of LAWS and will form an important part of the international community’s response to the challenges they pose.
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In New Zealand’s case, and in accordance with our AP1 obligations, each emerging capability will be reviewed by New Zealand Defence Force using a multi-disciplinary approach and a determination by the Director of Defence Legal Services to ensure it is compliant with IHL. Meaningful human control will be a contextual part of that assessment, alongside the cardinal points of IHL. We are looking at our framework for weapons reviews through the lens of emerging technologies and are interested in similar work being undertaken by others.
New Zealand sees real value in further work on this and are considering with interest the proposals relating to Article 36 reviews put forward by other delegations. In particular, we would see additional work on Article 36 reviews in this forum as a concrete recognition that LAWS are a challenge that requires a concerted international response and not just action at a national level.
Statement by New Zealand under agenda item 6(d): possible options for addressing the humanitarian and international security challenges (13 April 2018)
