LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS

Abstract

Since 2013, the debates on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) and approach to them from the point of view of international legislation have been taking place within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and later, since 2017, on the platform Group of Governmental Experts under CCW. Following the ongoing debates and the importance of the topic, in her article, the author aims to summarise the results achieved in the discussions under the CCW, especially the main steps, successfully handled challenges and shifts in the countries’ positions since 2013, as well as open issues in regulating LAWS under this international convention. Part of the article is dedicated to the identification of existing similar features of countries sharing a common position on LAWS at CCW conferences, as well as the challenges and possible implications of China’s status, which supports a ban on the deployment of LAWS, but not on their research and production.