Policy Brief for UNGA informal consultations on LAWS, 12-13 May 2025
This briefing paper provides more in-depth background information on autonomous weapons systems, international discussions so far, and some key challenges and considerations they raise ahead of the 12-13 May informal consultations on autonomous weapons systems in New York.
On 12 and 13 May, open informal consultations on the issue of autonomous weapons systems, mandated by UN General Assembly Resolution 79/62, will be held at the UN in New York. These consultations will examine the topics raised in the UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report. This report gathered states’ and other stakeholders’ views, and called again on states to adopt a legal treaty to prohibit and regulate autonomous weapons systems by 2026.
This briefing paper provides more in-depth background information on autonomous weapons systems, international discussions so far, and some key challenges and considerations they raise.
