Overview

The 2023 Meeting of the High Contracting to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) decided that "The Group of Governmental Experts of the High Contracting Parties related to emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), for a duration of 10 days, from 6 to 10 March 2023, and from 15 to 19 May 2023" (CCW/MSP/2022/7, paragraph 37 (b)). The Meeting also adopted the relevant cost estimates for 2023 as contained in CCW/MSP/2022/5.

The 2023 Meeting of the High Contracting to the CCW also decided "That the work of the open-ended Group of Governmental Experts related to emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems established by Decision 1 of the Fifth Review Conference as contained in document CCW/CONF.V/10, adhering to the agreed recommendations contained in document CCW/CONF.V/2, is to continue, to strengthen the Convention. In the context of the objectives and purpose of the Convention, the Group is to intensify the consideration of proposals and elaborate, by consensus, possible measures, including taking into account the example of existing protocols within the Convention, and other options related to the normative and operational framework on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems, building upon the recommendations and conclusions of the Group of Governmental Experts related to emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems, and bringing in expertise on legal, military, and technological aspects" (CCW/MSP/2022/7, paragraph 32).

The two sessions of the 2023 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, chaired by Ambassador Flavio Damico Soares of Brazil will both take place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, respectively on 6-10 March 2023 and 15-19 May 2023.

On 09 February 2023, the CCW Implementation Support circulated an aide-mémoire to High Contracting Parties regarding the first 2023 session of the GGE on LAWS.

Documents

CCW/GGE.1/2023/1 - Provisional Agenda

Indicative timetable for the first session of the Group

CCW/GGE.1/2023/WP.1/Rev.1 - Working paper submitted by Austria

CCW/GGE.1/2023/WP.2/Rev.1 - Working paper submitted by the State of Palestine

CCW/GGE.1/2023/WP.3/Rev.1 - Working paper submitted by Pakistan

CCW/GGE.1/2023/WP.4/Rev.1 - Working paper submitted by Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States

CCW/GGE.1/2023/WP.5 - Working paper submitted by the Russian Federation

CCW/GGE.1/2023/CRP.1 - Non-exhaustive compilation of definitions and characterizations

Side Events

7
March2023
Emerging technologies in the area of LAWS: novel approaches to "meaningful human control"The notion of “human control” with regards to weapons systems is not new.1 It has been referred to by States, civil society, academic institutions, and international organizations alike. The term “meaningful human control” was first introduced in the LAWS discussions in the framework of the CCW in 2013, and it has since gained traction as a framing concept for discussions on autonomy in weapons systems in this Group.

This webinar unpacks the concept of “Meaningful Human Control” by exploring its meaning, operationalization, testing, and real-life applications. It seeks to explore the views of professionals conducting most recent academic and applied research on meaningful human control and working on concrete products and services, with the aim of deepening participants' understanding of a term that has become central to the discussions of the GGE on LAWS.

This webinar is organized by UNODA with the financial support of the EU.

Link to register: https://ungeneva.webex.com/weblink/register/rfbbd0244e11ce9470542a47f42acd63f
13:15-14:45 CETWebex
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