Positions of States and Organisations

States and some organisations have expressed their views about the utility, purpose, scope and process of the legal review of weapons in various different contexts. Some of these views have been recorded domestic documents, such as military manuals on the law of armed conflict. Increasingly, however, States and organisations have articulated their positions in a range of international fora, either through written submissions or oral interventions.

This database compiles and organises publicly expressed views in relation to legal reviews, without prejudice to their relative significance or effect (for example, in terms of the development of customary international law). The database aims to comprehensively reflect the views of states but only covers the positions of a small number of selected organisations.

This database currently contains 379 positions and is continuously updated. Any corrections, or suggestions to add material, are welcome.

2019

  1. Australia’s system of control and application for autonomous weapon systems

    26 March 2019State or organisation: AustraliaForum: GGE LAWS 2019

    16. An important aspect of the review process is an Article 36 Review. In accordance with Australia’s obligation as a party to Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Convention, an Article 36 Review must be undertaken before a new weapon system can be introduced into …