The conduct of legal reviews of new weapons, means and methods of war under article 36 of [AP I] is important for ensuring that the development, deployment and use of new weapons systems and new means and methods of warfare comply with international law. As with all weapons, assessing the lawfulness of an [AWS] will depend on its specific characteristics and whether it can be employed in conformity with the rules of IHL in all circumstances in which it is intended and expected to be used.
Statement by Ireland under agenda item 5(a): an exploration of the potential challenges (26 March 2019)
