Today the @UN Security Council will debate a new report by Sec-Gen @antonioguterres that urges states to protect civilians from serious threats raised by lethal autonomous weapons systems https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/2020/05/protect-civilians-stop-killer-robots/ #Lead2Protect #NotATarget #TeamHuman #KeepCtrl

"The ultimate aim of the Council’s work is to safeguard the security of the world’s people, not just the States in which they live" - protection of civilians advice from #Canada's @lloydaxworthy to the Security Council in 1999 is still valid today https://www.unocha.org/protection-civilians-week

As Security Council P5 states develop ever-more autonomous weapons systems, @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres urges immediate regulation https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/2020/05/protect-civilians-stop-killer-robots/ Starting point for negotiations? Strong agreement on importance of human control over use of force. #KeepCtrl

#China is the only permanent Security Council state to support calls for a new treaty on lethal autonomous weapons systems. Rest say it's too soon(!?), existing law applies. Concerns will only multiply the longer it takes to regulate #NotATarget #Lead2Protect #KeepCtrl #TeamHuman

Since November 2018, @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres has repeatedly called on states to launch negotiations on a new international treaty to ban lethal autonomous weapons systems https://www.stopkillerrobots.org/2020/05/protect-civilians-stop-killer-robots/ Time to heed his call! #NotATarget #Lead2Protect #KeepCtrl #TeamHuman

#Estonia's permanent representative is president of the Security Council this month - he just opened the annual protection of civilians debate. Watch it live here: http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/protection-of-civilians-in-armed-conflicts-security-council-open-vtc/5690582060001

At #virtual Security Council, @UN SecGen @antonioguterres urges global attention to legal, moral, ethical implications posed by lethal autonomous weapons. Expresses "deep conviction" that such weapons much be prohibited by international humanitarian law http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/protection-of-civilians-in-armed-conflicts-security-council-open-vtc/5690582060001

#ICRC head @PMaurerICRC tells virtual Security Council debate that emerging threats, from hate speech to data misuse, raise serious concerns.

"We need more multilateralism, not less!" Nobel Peace Laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf calls on @UN Security Council states to "find the courage" to live up to their mandate to facilitate international peace + security http://webtv.un.org/live-now/watch/protection-of-civilians-in-armed-conflicts-security-council-open-vtc/5690582060001 #NotATarget #Lead2Protect #TeamHuman

#Estonia's President @KerstiKaljulaid finds normative framework for protection of civilians is "not working," urges enhanced compliance with existing international humanitarian law. #Estonia has NOT indicated if it wants a new treaty to retain human control over the use of force.

If this is what #Estonia wants it should not hesitate to support growing calls to launch negotiations on a new international treaty to retain meaningful human control over the use of force https://twitter.com/rikefranke/status/1189463750623088640?s=21 @KerstiKaljulaid @EstoniaUN @MFAestonia #Lead2Protect #KeepCtrl https://twitter.com/rikefranke/status/1189463750623088640

Someone on the @UN Security Council needs to mute their microphone, lol. @UKUN_NewYork Follow these practical tips for using digital diplomacy to advance #humanitarian #disarmament https://humanitariandisarmament.org/2020/05/26/digital-diplomacy-dos-and-donts-a-new-guide/

At @UN Security Council debate #Germany calls for "humanity in these challenging times." Flags the profound + dangerous effects of new + emerging technologies but does not reiterate the call by foreign minister @HeikoMaas to ban fully autonomous weapons. #Lead2Protect #NotATarget

#Belgium tells virtual @UN Security Council debate that neglecting children in armed conflict is setting them up for failure later in life. We agree + so does #Ypres, where children are voting on our Campaign's nomination for the city's 2020 peace prize https://www.vredesprijs-ieper.be/vp/index.php/2020/32-genomineerden-2020/102-the-campaign-to-stop-killer-robots

At virtual @UN Security Council debate, #UnitedStates pledges to "seek mechanisms to better protect civilians from barbaric actions that the UN was created to prevent." No comment on threats created by its military's unrestrained investments in AI + emerging tech #NotATarget

At @UN Security Council debate, South Africa does not comment on emerging technologies, such as ethical, moral, legal + other concerns raised by lethal autonomous weapons systems. But it subscribes to #NAM call for a new international treaty. #Lead2Protect

#China tells @UN Security Council that new risks are compounding efforts to protect civilians in armed conflict. But it lectures states on how each nation is responsible for doing so, thereby undermining multilateral efforts to address collective threats.

Dominican Republic highlights "collective responsibility" of @UN Security Council states to better protect civilians, providing example of harm caused by use of explosive weapons in populated areas. @explosiveweapon

Last speaker @ today's @UN Security Council debate on protecting civilians in armed conflict is #France - raises issue of "lethal weapons systems featuring autonomy" + welcomes "substantial progress" made in #CCWUN talks, which has produced "guiding principles" @FR_Desarmement

We did not hear any other @UN Security Council member states raise the challenge of lethal autonomous weapons systems in their remarks at today's debate on the protection of civilians. A lost opportunity for them... #Lead2Protect #NotATarget #POCweek2020 #TeamHuman #KeepCtrl