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In seiner Schrift „Zum ewigen Frieden. Ein philosophischer Entwurf“ von 1795 bemerkt Immanuel Kant, dass alle „Weltburger“ ein Recht auf Bewegungsfreiheit haben sollten, ein Recht, das er in der gemeinsamen Eigentumerschaft an der Erde. more

In seiner Schrift „Zum ewigen Frieden. Ein philosophischer Entwurf“ von 1795 bemerkt Immanuel Kant, dass alle „Weltburger“ ein Recht auf Bewegungsfreiheit haben sollten, ein Recht, das er in der gemeinsamen Eigentumerschaft an der Erde auf Seiten der ganzen Menschheit verankert. Heute konnen wir uns kaum ein Recht vorstellen, das so umfassend verletzt worden ist wie das Recht auf Bewegungsfreiheit.

Autonomous weapons systems would threaten international peace and security. As outlined in ICRAC’s leaflet, distributed to States Parties this week, ICRAC experts fear the threats of proliferation, arms races and lowered thresholds for. more

Autonomous weapons systems would threaten international peace and security. As outlined in ICRAC’s leaflet, distributed to States Parties this week, ICRAC experts fear the threats of proliferation, arms races and lowered thresholds for armed violence. ICRAC fears that the unpredictable interaction between opposing complex autonomous weapons systems, coupled with increasing speed, could spiral out of control and trigger accidental conflict and/or indiscriminate civilian harm.

Autonomous weapons systems raise legal and ethical concerns. Peer-reviewed research by ICRAC experts has shown for the foreseeable future, autonomous weapon systems could not comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. A precautionary approach is needed.

As a result, ICRAC calls on States Parties to:

1) Develop national policies in favor of a ban on autonomous weapons systems,

2) Commit to moratoria on development, production and use, as recommended by UN Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns,

3) Support an international mandate leading to substantive negotiations on a preemptive prohibition, either by a CCW Sixth Protocol or other means, and

4) Ensure that discussions on autonomous weapons systems are open and inclusive especially of women, experts from the Global South and civil society.

Publication Date: Apr 17, 2015