The Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS) concluded its work following intensive negotiations and the adoption of its final report by consensus. The Group agreed on “a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures.” While the outcome provides a relatively comprehensive framework for further negotiations, it does not constitute an agreement to adopt a treaty or another legally binding instrument.
Disagreement over the Legal Nature of a Future Instrument
One of the most significant points of contention was the legal nature of a potential future instrument. More than 70 countries advocated for a legally binding international instrument, while several countries, including the United States and Russia, did not support this approach and emphasized national measures and non-binding arrangements. The disagreement remained unresolved in the final report. By retaining the phrase “without prejudging its nature,” the Group left open the question of whether future regulations should take a legally binding form.
Human Control and Judgement: Agreement on Principles, Not Terminology
The extent and modalities of human control over autonomous weapon systems constituted another major area of disagreement. Although several countries emphasized the concept of “meaningful human control,” this specific term was not included in the final text. Instead, the report stresses the importance of “control and human judgement” to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). It further provides that humans should exercise the necessary judgement in light of the operational context and the capabilities of the system concerned.
Defining the Scope of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
Paragraph 25 of the report provides a relatively broad characterization of the systems under consideration. It addresses systems capable of identifying, selecting and engaging targets in ways that may result in the loss of human life without intervention by a human operator working with the system. This characterization is not intended to be immutable and may evolve in response to technological developments and future understandings of such systems.
Upholding International Humanitarian Law and Preserving Human Responsibility
A key substantive achievement of the report is its emphasis on compliance with international humanitarian law, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. The report also reaffirms that responsibility and accountability remain with States, parties to armed conflicts and individuals, and cannot be transferred to machines.
In this context, the report highlights a range of safeguards and operational measures. These include responsible human command-and-control arrangements; restrictions on the types of targets, the scale of operations and, where appropriate, their duration and geographical scope; the ability to intervene in and deactivate a system; legal reviews and risk assessments; realistic testing and simulation; appropriate training and instructions; and measures to address unintended bias and automation bias.
Next Steps: The CCW Seventh Review Conference in November 2026
The final report recommends that the Seventh Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), scheduled for November 2026, consider and endorse the agreed set of elements without prejudging the outcome of future negotiations. The Conference is also expected to decide on the way forward for the Group’s work.
Overall, the outcome can be characterized as an important, but not final, compromise. Although agreement on a substantial set of substantive elements establishes common ground for further negotiations, fundamental disagreements remain over the legal nature of a future instrument, the scope of human control and judgement, and the ultimate reach of any regulatory framework. The Seventh Review Conference of the CCW could therefore prove pivotal in determining the future direction of international negotiations on lethal autonomous weapons systems.
Source: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), Final Report of the 2026 Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS).
