Ministry Statements & Speeches:
Thank you Chair.
Please let me extend our appreciation to you for taking up the role of chair. You can count on the full support of my delegation as you conduct your duties this week.
New Zealand has a consistent approach to autonomous weapon systems; our long-standing position supporting their prohibition and regulation was recently reconfirmed by our new Government.
We were pleased to see convergence of support for a two-tier approach last year, as reflected in the GGE’s report. Our ambition is for a new, specific prohibition on weapons that cannot operate in compliance with IHL, including those with effects that cannot be anticipated or controlled. And for those that can, we seek a set of regulations or positive obligations. Relevant ethical concerns should be duly reflected.
A two-tier approach provides a suitable basis for this Group to get a head start in fulfilling our new mandate. In this regard, we recognise that restrictive definitions or characterisations could inadvertently exclude future technology developments. We therefore urge a flexible and technology-agnostic approach. Technological advancements in the areas of autonomy are moving quickly.
While we have the floor, we recall last year’s UNGA Resolution, which invites submissions to the UN Secretary General on AWS, and we encourage States to engage. We believe this work will complement that of our Group and support progress on this critical issue.
We also want to acknowledge the political leadership shown by those countries that continue to hold regional and international conferences, and establish initiatives relevant to autonomous weapons systems. These events have helped to create momentum and provide a platform for further discussions on these important issues. This has been highly encouraging. While we continue to hold the view that voluntary initiatives are not a substitute for new rules and limits on AWS, they have a role to play.
I thank you.