4. The current cycle of GGE shall aim to formally recognize the common elements that have arisen through constructive engagement among delegations throughout the CCW discussions on autonomous weapon systems (AWS), particularly in the last GGE cycle. These common elements include recognizing:
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(h) the importance of the obligation of states to conduct national weapons review to determine, in the study, development, acquisition, or adoption of a new weapon, means, or method of warfare, whether its employment would, in some or all circumstances, be prohibited by international law;
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5. Proceeding from this recognition, the GGE shall further elaborate these common grounds in the form of a report to the Meeting of High Contracting Parties (MHCP). This elaboration could be organized on the basis of the following provisional outline:
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F. National weapons review
28. Reaffirm that states have obligations under international law whereby, in the study, development, acquisition, or adoption of a new weapon, means or method of warfare, determination must be made whether its employment would, in some or all circumstances, be prohibited by international law.
29. Recognize that legal weapon reviews at the national level are a useful tool to assess nationally whether potential weapons systems based on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems would be prohibited by any rule of international law applicable to that state in all or some circumstances.
Roadmap Towards a New Protocol on Autonomous Weapons Systems: submitted by Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Sierra Leone, State of Palestine and Uruguay (8 August 2022) CCW/GGE.1/2022/WP.3
