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====== UN and CCW processes on autonomous weapons ======

//As of 1 October 2026. Information only, not legal advice – see the [[about:disclaimer|disclaimer]].//

^ Full title | UN and CCW processes on lethal autonomous weapons systems |
^ Type | Intergovernmental process: Group of Governmental Experts under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW); UN General Assembly resolutions |
^ Adopted by | High Contracting Parties to the CCW; UN General Assembly |
^ Adopted | GGE on LAWS established by the Fifth CCW Review Conference (2016); current mandate 2024–2026 decided in November 2023; GA resolutions 78/241 (22 December 2023), 79/62 (2 December 2024), 80/57 (1 December 2025) |
^ Legal status | No specific treaty on autonomous weapons systems; existing international humanitarian law applies. The CCW (128 High Contracting Parties according to UNODA, March 2025) is a binding treaty; GGE outcomes and GA resolutions are non-binding |
^ Official text | [[https://meetings.unoda.org/ccw-/convention-on-certain-conventional-weapons-group-of-governmental-experts-on-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems-2026|UNODA Meetings Place – CCW GGE on LAWS (2026)]] · [[https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4095989|UN Doc. A/RES/80/57]] |
^ Subject area | Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons; UN processes and institutions |

===== Overview =====
Lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) are discussed in two UN-related forums. Since 2017 a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) under the CCW has met in Geneva; in 2019 the CCW High Contracting Parties endorsed eleven guiding principles, including that international humanitarian law applies fully to all weapons systems and that human responsibility for decisions on the use of weapons systems must be retained. Under its 2024–2026 mandate the GGE was tasked to further consider and formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature. In parallel, the UN General Assembly has adopted annual resolutions on LAWS since 2023. The topic is referred to in debates on human control over the use of force, accountability, and the application of IHL to AI-enabled military systems.

===== Provisions relevant to the cyber and information sphere =====
  * **CCW GGE mandate 2024–2026** – To "further consider and formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature", working on the basis of a rolling text, for submission to the Seventh CCW Review Conference.
  * **GA resolution 78/241 (2023)** – Requested the Secretary-General to seek the views of States and other stakeholders and to submit a substantive report (issued as A/79/88 in 2024). Adopted by 152 votes to 4, with 11 abstentions.
  * **GA resolution 79/62 (2024)** – Decided to convene open informal consultations in New York in 2025 to complement the CCW work. Adopted by 166 votes to 3 (Belarus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russian Federation), with 15 abstentions.
  * **GA resolution 80/57 (2025)** – Acknowledges the progress of the GGE and its rolling text, notes the Secretary-General's calls for negotiations on a legally binding instrument based on a two-tier approach of prohibitions and regulations, and calls on the CCW High Contracting Parties to complete the elements of an instrument with a view to future negotiations. In the First Committee (6 November 2025) the draft was approved by 156 votes to 5, with 8 abstentions; the General Assembly adopted it on 1 December 2025 by 164 votes to 6 (Belarus, Burundi, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Israel, Russian Federation, United States), with 7 abstentions (UN Digital Library; UN Project voting record).

===== Application to cyber and information operations =====
The rolling text discussed in 2026 characterises a lethal autonomous weapon system as a combination of one or more weapons and functionally integrated technological components that can identify, select and engage a target. States differ on whether a future instrument should be legally binding and on the scope of prohibitions and regulations. A group of States supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument, in or outside the CCW; other States, including the United States and the Russian Federation, have opposed binding requirements such as a standard of "meaningful human control" or have preferred the CCW as the only forum. The UN Secretary-General and the ICRC have called for a legally binding instrument. See [[gaps:laws_treaty]].

===== Recent developments =====
  * 2025-05: Open informal consultations on LAWS held in New York pursuant to GA resolution 79/62 (A/RES/80/57, preamble).
  * 2025-12-01: GA resolution 80/57 adopted (A/RES/80/57).
  * 2026-08-31 to early September: Final session of the GGE under the 2024–2026 mandate; the Group adopted its report, containing a characterisation of LAWS and elements on human control and judgement, for transmission to the Seventh Review Conference. Human Rights Watch reported that 76 States had expressed support for moving to negotiations (Human Rights Watch, 7 September 2026; Permanent Mission of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament).
  * 2026-09-07/09: Preparatory Committee for the Seventh CCW Review Conference met in Geneva (Permanent Mission of Italy).
  * 2026-11-16/20: Seventh CCW Review Conference scheduled; a decision on a future mandate is expected there (UNODA; Permanent Mission of Italy).

===== Related entries =====
  * [[gaps:laws_treaty]]
  * [[law:ihl:ap1]]
  * [[law:un:global_digital_compact]]
  * [[law:eu:ai_act]]
  * [[law:coe:ai_convention]]
  * [[law:un:charter]]
  * [[law:un:military_ai]]
  * [[law:soft:reaim]]
  * [[law:statements:magnifica_humanitas]]

===== Sources =====
  * [[https://meetings.unoda.org/ccw-/convention-on-certain-conventional-weapons-group-of-governmental-experts-on-lethal-autonomous-weapons-systems-2026|UNODA Meetings Place – CCW GGE on LAWS (2026)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://meetings.unoda.org/ccw-revcon/convention-on-certain-conventional-weapons-seventh-review-conference-2026|UNODA Meetings Place – CCW Seventh Review Conference (2026)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://disarmament.unoda.org/en/our-work/conventional-arms/convention-certain-conventional-weapons/high-contracting-parties-and-signatories-ccw|UNODA – High Contracting Parties and Signatories CCW]], accessed 2026-09-30
  * [[https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4033027|UN Doc. A/RES/78/241]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4095989|UN Doc. A/RES/80/57]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-80-57/|UN Project – voting record, A/RES/80/57]], accessed 2026-09-30
  * [[https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/12/05/killer-robots-un-vote-should-spur-treaty-negotiations|Human Rights Watch – vote on resolution 79/62 (5 December 2024)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/news/156-states-support-unga-resolution/|Stop Killer Robots – First Committee vote on L.41 (November 2025)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://www.justsecurity.org/155198/expert-backgrounder-what-to-watch-for-at-this-weeks-pivotal-international-meeting-on-autonomous-weapons/|Just Security – Expert backgrounder on the final GGE session (31 August 2026)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/09/07/un-talks-on-killer-robots-ends-with-calls-for-negotiations-growing|Human Rights Watch – UN talks on killer robots end (7 September 2026)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://italiarappdisarmo.esteri.it/en/news/dalla_rappresentanza/2026/09/convenzione-su-certe-armi-convenzionali-ccw-al-via-a-ginevra-il-comitato-preparatorio-della-settima-conferenza-di-riesame/|Permanent Mission of Italy to the Conference on Disarmament – CCW Preparatory Committee (September 2026)]], accessed 2026-09-27
  * [[https://www.icrc.org/en/article/advocacy-paper-key-opportunity-prevent-development-unacceptable-autonomous-weapons|ICRC – Advocacy paper on autonomous weapons]], accessed 2026-09-27

===== Change log =====
  * 2026-09-27: Entry created (draft).
  * 2026-09-30: Entry reviewed and finalised.
  * 2026-10-01: Related entries added.