4. Weapons Reviews
An implementation of IHL in good faith requires an assessment whether means and methods of warfare can be used in conformity with IHL prior to their employment in international as well as non-international armed conflicts. Conducting legal reviews, as specified in article 36 of [API], constitutes an important element in preventing or restricting the development and employment of new weapons that would, in some or all circumstances, be prohibited by international law.
Switzerland submits the following elements to be reflected in the GGE report:
- Acknowledgement of the importance of legal reviews as an element of human control in the development and procurement phase of weapon systems in the area of LAWS.
- Acknowledgement of the particular challenges that emerging technologies in the area of LAWS present to the weapon review process, including present and future self-learning capabilities, and recognition of future work needed to address these challenges for legal reviews.
