Overview

The 2024 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) decided to organize "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 3-7 March 2025 and from 1-5 September 2025" (CCW/MSP/2024/7, paragraph 27 (c)). The Meeting also adopted the relevant cost estimates for 2025 as contained in CCW/MSP/2024/5.

The 2024 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the CCW recalled the following decision taken by the 2023 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the CCW: "(...) 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 further consider and formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapon systems, taking into account the example of existing Protocols within the Convention, proposals presented by High Contracting Parties 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, and bringing in expertise on legal, military, and technological aspects." (CCW/MSP/2024/7, paragraph 22)