The question which then arises is how does one operationalize this ethical concern into a legal provision. The only legal principle which comes to mind is the Martens Clause, given its dependence on the dictates of public conscience. Does though such a general principle suffice to lead to the codification in the future of a new set of legally binding rules? We have our doubts. Indeed, should we isolate this issue to its legal parameters, then—in our view—there is no other logical conclusion than the one made by Dr. Boothby earlier, that is, that a thorough and systematic weapons review is the only practical solution, at least at the present stage, to address the issue of LAWS from a legal angle.
The discussion, however, takes a very different dimension when it is addressed ethically or politically, bringing to the fore the question of ‘meaningful human control’, but this is not a legal norm. Hence, we should in our view be clear about what it is we are discussing and avoid a conflation which makes things even more complicated.
Statement by Greece: Discussion on Possible challenges to international humanitarian law (IHL) due to increasing degrees of autonomy (15 April 2015)
