WORKING PAPER

Author: The RussianFederation, PeoplesRepublicofChina , IslamicrepublicofIran

1. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Amendments

1.1 Expand Article 36 (Weapons Review)

o Current Limitation: Focuses on new weapons compliance with IHL but

lacks explicit mention of autonomous weapons;
o Amendment:
Mandate periodic evaluations of autonomous weapons systems'
capabilities in relation to IHL, particularly evolving technologies
like LAWS (Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems);
Define technical and operational standards for LAWS to ensure
compliance with IHL principles (distinction, proportionality,
necessity);
Establish independent expert review committees to assess
evolving technologies in warfare;
Ensure transparency and public accountability through detailed
reports and public briefings on these evaluations;

1.2 New Protocol to Address Human Control

o Objective: Mandate that all autonomous weapons must operate under

Meaningful Human Control (MHC);
o Amendment:
Introduce a new protocol to guarantee human decision-making
authority over all autonomous weapon systems, ensuring that life-
and-death decisions are never fully delegated to AI or
autonomous systems;
Define specific "kill chain" protocols, where humans must be
involved in decisions that lead to the use of lethal force;

1.3 Explicit Ban on Autonomous Target Selection

o Amendment;
Strengthen Article 35 to include a clause prohibiting LAWS from
engaging in target selection and attack decisions without human
 oversight, this would address concerns over machines making
ethical and strategic choices beyond human control;
Human validation must be required at all stages of target
identification, assessment, and strike authorization;

2. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Amendments

1.1 Include Autonomous Weapons in Transfer Regulations

o Current Limitation: The ATT addresses conventional weapons but does

not specifically regulate LAWS;
o Amendment:
Include autonomous weapon systems in the ATT framework,
requiring states to conduct detailed risk assessments before
exporting LAWS;
Add a clause mandating export restrictions based on a country’ s
adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL) and human
rights standard;

1.2 New Provisions on Technology Transfers

o Amendment:
Prohibit the transfer of LAWS-related AI and software to states or
entities that do not comply with international legal standards.
Ensure that LAWS technologies are only shared with trusted
parties adhering to ethical norms and operational transparency;

3. UN Framework Adjustments

3.1 Creation of a Dedicated Body for LAWS Oversight

o Amendment:
Establish the UN Office for Autonomous Weapons Regulation
(UN-OAWR) tasked with monitoring global development of LAWS;
The UN-OAWR should be responsible for investigating violations,
setting global regulatory standards, and coordinating
multilateral discussions on autonomous weapons systems;
Ensure member states report all LAWS development activities,
including testing, deployment, and exports;

3.2 Strengthen the UN Charter

 o Amendment:
Introduce new provisions emphasizing the peaceful use of AI and
autonomous weapons in warfare;
Prohibit indiscriminate autonomous attacks and mandate that all
autonomous systems adhere to principles of distinction and
proportionality;
Reinforce the responsibility of states to ensure that all AI systems
in warfare comply with both IHL and human rights law;

4 Geneva Conventions Amendments

4.1 Define Autonomy in Warfare

o Amendment:
Add explicit definitions to the Geneva Conventions concerning
autonomous weapons and their compliance with IHL;
Introduce rules of engagement for autonomous systems,
ensuring they are transparent and accountable under existing
wartime protections;

4.2 Provisions on Accountability

o Amendment:
Amend Common Article 3 to introduce specific accountability
measures for commanders, operators, and developers using
LAWS, ensuring they remain answerable for their actions and that
command responsibility is clearly outlined;

5 Amendments to Regional Security Frameworks

5.1 EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)

o Amendment:
Mandate that EU states prohibit the deployment of fully
autonomous weapons without human oversight;
Require periodic reviews and audits of member states’
compliance with international regulations on LAWS, ensuring that
autonomy is never exercised in isolation from human intervention;
Develop common operational standards for the EU to ensure
LAWS comply with ethical norms in warfare;
 5.2 African Union (AU) Peace and Security Framework

o Amendment:
Strengthen provisions to ensure that LAWS are not deployed by
rogue regimes or non-state actors in conflict zones;
Introduce regional disarmament frameworks, with a focus on
autonomous weapons and emphasize transparency and
accountability in vulnerable regions;
Mandate cooperation between states to develop regional laws
addressing autonomous weapon systems and disarmament;

6 International Criminal Law (ICC Statute) Amendments

6.1 Establish LAWS-Specific War Crimes

o Amendment:
Amend the Rome Statute to explicitly criminalize the deployment
of LAWS in violation of IHL, particularly when such systems are
used for indiscriminate attacks or against civilians;
Include provisions for prosecuting the developers and operators
of LAWS when they breach international law;

6.2 Chain of Command Responsibility

o Amendment:
Extend accountability to include developers, manufacturers, and
operators of LAWS, ensuring that individuals in chain of
command are held responsible for unlawful uses of autonomous
systems in warfare;

7 Criteria for New Amendments or Treaties

7.1 Universal Ethical Standards

o Amendment:
Develop global consensus on ethical principles for AI in warfare,
ensuring alignment with human rights and international
humanitarian law (IHL);
Introduce binding ethical standards that prevent the use of LAWS
in violating human dignity or human rights;

7.2 Technological Transparency

 o Amendment:
Require states to share information on their LAWS capabilities
with an international body (such as the UN-OAWR), ensuring
compliance with transparency norms in arms development;

7.3 Moratorium on Full Autonomy

o Amendment:
Impose a temporary global ban on the deployment of fully
autonomous weapons systems, pending the development of
robust laws and frameworks governing their use;
Use this moratorium period to establish comprehensive
international standards for the use and regulation of LAWS;

8 Solutions for Arms Race Participants

8.1 Establish Incentivized Disarmament Programs

o Amendment:
Offer economic incentives or debt relief to countries that reduce
or halt spending on LAWS development, providing pathways for
transitioning to peaceful AI applications (e.g., medical or
environmental uses);

8.2 Arms Reduction Treaties

o Amendment:
Create new international treaties akin to START to address
AI-based weapons, including caps on the development and
deployment of LAWS;

8.3 Focus on Defensive AI Applications

o Amendment:
Encourage states to pivot resources and research toward
defensive AI applications (e.g., cybersecurity), which could help
prevent an arms race in offensive autonomous weapons.