Closing Statement by Stop Killer Robots to the GGE on lethal autonomous weapons systems, 1-5 September

The following statement was delivered on Friday, September 5, 2025, by Dr. Peter Asaro to delegates participating in the meeting of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), which took place on 1-5 September 2025.

Thank you, Chair.

Stop Killer Robots welcomes the joint statement delivered by Brazil.

To hear 42 states from across regional and political groupings affirm that the rolling text has positively matured, is sufficient to fulfil the mandate of the GGE, and can form the basis for negotiating an instrument on autonomous weapons systems is a real step forward.

In particular, we greatly welcome that these states have collectively concluded they are “ready to move ahead towards negotiations.”

We urge states to take this commitment seriously – and to move to launch negotiations on a legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems as soon as possible.

Such an instrument should apply to the broad scope of weapons systems that select and engage targets based on sensor inputs rather than an immediate human command. For Stop Killer Robots, a legally binding instrument must contain prohibitions on systems that are fundamentally unacceptable, notably those that target people and those that inherently lack meaningful human control. The instrument should also include positive obligations to ensure meaningful human control over all other systems.

States already share much common ground: on the need for a two-tier approach of prohibitions and regulations; on the need for meaningful human control; and on many of the basic elements of such control.

It is time to act. We are already seeing, in the use of decision support systems in Gaza, the devastating harm to civilians caused by technologies that erode the role of human decision-making and entail digital dehumanisation in the use of force. We are also seeing increased interest and investment in autonomy in weapons systems around the world. 

States must now move to negotiations. They should include all states who are willing to turn the common ground they have developed into law. Negotiations must take place in a way that does not allow progress to be obstructed by those acting in bad faith, and also must have the full participation of civil society and other observers.

We stand ready to support states in taking the courageous political action needed to negotiate a treaty that will save lives and stop the slide towards the automation of killing.