I dived in deep to drafts of the Pact for the Future to take a look at what states are pushing for action on autonomous weapons and which states are obstructing.

See link below for a full readout of state positions and analysis on what it means

spoileralerts.substack.com/p/action-on-au…

Under the first #UNGA Resolution on #autonomousweapons the UNSG is seeking views on addressing #killerrobots

Key in our submission:
➡️ #AWS = a process of functioning
➡️Prohibiting targeting people is critical
➡️Defensive systems should be in a treaty

📖ow.ly/KVhZ50RTRRE

Today, as we continue to mark Protection of Civilians Week, MAG joined an event hosted by Ireland at UN on protecting civilians from explosive weapons in populated areas, discussing how the recently adopted Political Declaration can help tackle the humanitarian consequences.

Hoy se realizó un debate centrado en las consecuencias humanitarias del uso de armas explosivas en zonas pobladas en Ireland at UN NY, en el marco de la #POCWEEK2024
INEW
NorwayUN
ICRC
Dr.Hamza Alkateab
UN Humanitarian
Sigan el 🧵para ver los temas destacados⤵️

Latest protection of civilians report from UN Secretary-General calls for states to implement the Political Declaration fully ➡️ bit.ly/4bMiVXj

#POCWEEK2024 #NotATarget #StopBombingCivilians

Members of our Youth Network have come together to create a submission to the UN Secretary General’s report on Autonomous Weapons. This report was mandated by the historic resolution on killer robots adopted last year at the UN General Assembly. 1/3

“Governments often talk about biases in AI systems, but they never talk about uncertainties and assumptions” says Aurthur Michael Holland Arthur Holland Michel in a this piece for Just_Security

justsecurity.org/95630/biases-i…

Given the growing tensions between France and Russia over Ukraine, France testing nuclear missiles while Russia runs nuclear exercises near Ukraine's border is escalatory and dangerous - this is not deterrence, it is brinkmanship with all the risks of miscalculation involved.

Russia's nuclear weapons exercises near Ukraine show how deterrence relies on dangerous escalation. Running such drills near the conflict zone is as much about the implied threat you're willing to use WMDs as it is about training your soldiers to do so.

theguardian.com/world/article/…

Russia announcing #nuclearweapons exercises near Ukraine is dangerous and irresponsible. It must be widely condemned. This kind of brinkmanship, typical of 'nuclear deterrence' thinking, can spiral out of control and result in catastrophe.  reuters.com/world/europe/r…🧵

The US conducted its 1st subcritical #nucleartest in years just before a major DC gathering of frontline communities demanding justice and accountability for past testing harms. Yet another tone-deaf move from the nuclear establishment. #NuclearBan

english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/7…

The UNSG hails the Political Declaration as an important manifestation and waypoint of the “full protection of civilians approach.'

Read more here ➡️ bit.ly/4bMiVXj

THIS WEEK! 📍Protecting Civilians from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, 23 May 2024, 08:30 ET, New York or online during #POCWEEK2024

Read more and register here ➡️ bit.ly/4dAsvhD

#EWIPA #NotATarget #ExplosiveWeapons

Civilians are #NotATarget ❗️
25 years since the adoption of the POC in armed conflict agenda, we witness a continued erosion of compliance with international laws and standards. Those with power must ensure all civilians are not a target.
➡️ Full statement: bit.ly/3Kv5hwp

🇺🇳 1/4 The United Nations Security Council’s open debate today on the Protection of Civilians is an opportunity for States to express concern over #EWIPA and to amplify the endorsement and implementation of the Political Declaration.

#POCWEEK2024 #NotATarget

Military tech is getting smarter, but are regulations keeping up? Following the Vienna conference on autonomous weapons, we look at what the international community must do to establish clear rules for the use of autonomous weapons systems: bit.ly/4alFn8z #AWS2024

The statement by members of the NGO Working Group on the Protection of Civilians is available to read here ➡️ reliefweb.int/report/world/2…

'We are standing at the threshold, witnessing a deliberate undermining of the collective commitments established to limit the barbarity of war.'

Ahead of the #UNSC debate on #protectionofcivilians next week, Article 36 joined other NGOs to urge states to take meaningful action, given the scale of harm to civilians in conflicts today, including from #explosiveweapons #EWIPA
#PoCweek #NotATarget
article36.org/updates/joint-…

ONE MORE WEEK until the side event at #POCWEEK2024 on 'Protecting Civilians from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas'.

📍 23 May 2024, 08:30 ET, New York or online

Read more and register here ➡️ bit.ly/4dAsvhD

#EWIPA #NotATarget #ExplosiveWeapons

Recommendations for states ahead of the United Nations Security Council debate on the protection of civilians:

➡️Acknowledge and work to address harm from #EWIPA
➡️Endorse Political Declaration
➡️Assess and start to take steps required for implementation

More here: bit.ly/3wpE2jo