{"id":24420,"date":"2024-05-22T14:14:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T18:14:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tedic.org\/?p=24420"},"modified":"2025-02-07T15:35:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T18:35:03","slug":"we-urge-paraguay-and-un-member-states-to-regulate-autonomous-weapons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tedic.org\/en\/we-urge-paraguay-and-un-member-states-to-regulate-autonomous-weapons\/","title":{"rendered":"We urge Paraguay and UN member states to regulate autonomous weapons"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In February 2024, the UN sent a letter to states and civil society organizations requesting their comments on lethal autonomous weapon systems, known as \u201ckiller robots.\u201d The letter sought to address the challenges and concerns from humanitarian, legal, security, technological and ethical perspectives, in preparation for the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in September this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint effort to raise awareness and mobilize society about digital dehumanization and the increasing development of killer robots, TEDIC held significant meetings with two sectors: other civil society organizations and Paraguayan state institutions. The goal of both meetings was to discuss and subsequently issue a statement addressing the challenges posed by autonomous weapon systems in response to the UN’s request. Additionally, along with these positioning efforts by organizations and the Paraguayan State, we participated in international events on the subject matter and obtained the first parliamentary commitment on the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spaces for advocacy with civil society and the Paraguayan State<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of March we led a meeting with different civil society organizations within the framework of the international campaign \u201cStop Killer Robots<\/a>\u201d. <\/strong>In this meeting we discussed the implications of autonomous weapons systems in the national and international context and addressed the necessity for a joint statement on the urgent need to regulate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants in this meeting included organizations such as Amnesty International Paraguay<\/a>, the Human Rights Coordinator of Paraguay<\/a> (CODEHUPY), He\u00f1\u00f3i Center for the Study and Promotion of Democracy,<\/a> Human Rights and Socio-environmental Sustainability, <\/a>the Vencer Foundation<\/a>, Semillas para la Democracia<\/a>, and the organization Tape\u2019a for a sustainable social development.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Participation<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, TEDIC has been working closely with key actors of the Paraguayan State to promote an informed and constructive dialogue regarding the social and ethical impacts of the technology used for defense. <\/strong>These articulations aim to influence public policy formation and ensure that Paraguay can effectively contribute to international debates with a well-founded and ethically sound position on autonomous weapons systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this regard, we held meetings with various public institutions between February and March of this year to make them aware of the UN letter and extend the invitation to a joint working group involving TEDIC, the National Defense Council, <\/a>the Ministry of National Defense<\/a>, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs<\/a>, the Science and Technology Commission of the Chamber of Deputies<\/a> and the Science, Technology, Innovation and Future Commission of the Chamber of Senators of the National Congress.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Participation<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Image

Image of Mar\u00eda P\u00eda Devoto’s virtual participation in the meeting – April 10<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Participation

Participation of representatives of Paraguayan State institutions in the meeting – April 10th<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In this working group, alongside different public institutions of the State, we had the virtual participation of expert Mar\u00eda P\u00eda Devoto<\/a>, Coordinator of the Latin America Human Security Network (SEHLAC). Her contribution during the meeting laid the groundwork for the current debate on autonomous weapons systems, providing state representatives with an expert insight into the ethical and social challenges we face in the digital age<\/strong>, emphasizing the importance of Paraguay’s role in the global debate on the use and regulation of autonomous weapons.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Civil society statement in Paraguay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In April, we presented to the UN the Paraguay\u2019s civil society statement, crafted jointly during the meetings held in March. This statement, entitled “Stop Digital Dehumanization: We urge Paraguay and UN member states to strictly regulate autonomous weapons”, has the support of all the organizations that were present and participated in our working groups. You can read the statement here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image<\/a>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The resolution points of the statement are as follows:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n