Thursday 7 May 2015

Joint SIPRI and International Law Centre event to be held on autonomous weapons


The International Law Centre of the Swedish Defence University together with SIPRI invite you to a public lecture on 11 May:

Do we need new norms and new laws to control fully autonomous weapon systems?

Please note that you have to confirm your participation. Information on how to confirm will be found below.

To what extent does the increased automation and computerization of warfare challenge our interpretation of the law and its applicability, and possibly require revising existing law and or writing law anew? These questions are at the core of the current international debate on lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) that is currently taking place under the framework of the 1981 United Nations Conventions on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). At present, experts, NGOs and states parties to the Convention, have very different interpretations as to whether LAWS—understood as weapons which could select and engage target independent of human control— could comply with international laws, or might require special regulations.

Dr Peter Asaro will present and discuss his most recent publication, ‘Jus Nascendi, Robotics Weapons and the Martens Clause’, in which he addresses specific reasons for establishing an international legal instrument to prohibit the use of lethal autonomous weapons systems. He will also present the legal framework and means by which new law could come into place for new robotics technologies, as well as the philosophical issues that arise in this process.

Featured Speaker
Dr Peter Asaro, Assistant Professor with the School of Media at the The New School, USA and Visiting Fellow with the Center for Information Technology Policy of Princeton University, USA. Dr Asaro is a philosopher of science, technology and media. His current research focuses on the social, cultural, political, legal and ethical dimensions of military robotics and UAVs (drones). He is a member of International Committee for Robot Arms Control (ICRAC) and the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots.

Moderators
Dr Heather Harrison Dinniss, Senior Lecturer in International Law, International Law Centre, Department of Security, Strategy and Leadership, Swedish Defence University. Her research focuses on the impact of modern warfare on international humanitarian law, in particular on cyber warfare, advanced and autonomous weapons systems.

Dr Vincent Boulanin, Researcher, Cybersecurity Project, European Security Programme Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. He works on issues related to the production, use and control of emerging military and security technologies.

Where and When
Monday 11 May 2015, 17.15-18.45 at Swedish Defence University,
Drottning Kristinas väg 37, Stockholm
Room: Sverigesalen

Please confirm your participation no later than Thursday, 7 May 2015 by sending an email with your name,  affiliation, and ID card number (required for entering the building) to Reint-Jan Groot Nuelend, grootnuelend@sipri.org.

For further questions please contact Dr Vincent Boulanin, + 46 76 628 6215, Boulanin@sipri.org

/Heather