Topic: Autonomous Weapon Systems
Country: Switzerland
Delegate Name: Thomas Poole
School: Forest Hills Northern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Switzerland position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Autonomous Weapon Systems are a rising force in the world. A product of recent technological developments and improvements, these AWSs have the ability to make battlefield decisions and to fight. They can take the place of human soldiers in combat, but not without a price. Though they reduce the threat towards soldiers, AWSs pose risks of human rights violations through their potential limitations.
Switzerland itself has abstained from the use of drones or other unmanned vehicles in combat, believing instead that too many questions remain unanswered about the limitations and complexities of the artificial intelligence used in AWSs. In the past, Switzerland has made its opinions known on this account, calling for more discussion on the potential flaws and issues that could occur.
These issues mostly deal with the humanitarian and human rights violations that could occur. Switzerland is a strong advocate for these rights, and any infringement upon them would be seen as unacceptable. Though recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have greatly enhanced their ability to think and consider possibilities and situations, many questions still remain about the capability of AWSs to distinguish between friend, foe, and neutral parties. The last thing any nation wants is a massacre of civilian. Furthermore, are we, the member states of the United Nations, certain that an AWS can correctly evaluate a situation and determine the necessary response? Are we certain that an AWS can know what severity of response is called for?
After all, to kill or not to kill; that is the question.
