Day dedicated to victims of armed conflicts – the challenges of new technologies in armed conflicts, focus of an panel discussion in Geneva

New technologies such as armed drones are being deployed in current conflicts. This trend points to the deployment of increasingly autonomous weapons in future, requiring ever less human intervention. These weapon systems could make it possible to use force with greater precision, avoiding collateral damage more effectively. There are however a number of challenges in relation to international humanitarian law, in particular as to their ability to respect the principle of  distinction between civilians and combatants. These challenges will be even more important in future if fully autonomous lethal weapon systems (robots) were to be developed and deployed.

At the same time however these new technologies are also capable of civilian applications for humanitarian purposes, as is presently the case with drones. They are able to obtain precise information on the situation of populations affected by armed conflict, notably in cases where direct access for humanitarian actors is difficult.

These are some of the questions on the agenda for a panel discussion to mark a day dedicated to victims of armed conflicts, organised jointly with the ICRC and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Participating in the discussion, which will be held at the Maison de la Paix, will be Ms Christine Beerli, vice-president of the ICRC; Major General Adrian Foster, Deputy Military Advisor to the United Nations’ Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO); Ms Mona Rishmawi, UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Professor Dario Floreano, head of the EPFL Laboratory of Intelligent Systems; and Mr Josh Lyons of the NGO Human Rights Watch.

Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, head of the Directorate of International Law at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will open the discussion, which will be moderated by Professor Andrew Clapham of the Geneva Academy.

June 24 is the anniversary of the battle of Solferino of 1859, witnessed by Henry Dunant who as a result launched an initiative which led to the founding of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Switzerland has chosen this important date in the history of humanitarian action and the international humanitarian law of today to stage a day dedicated to victims of armed conflicts. It is part of the Confederation’s commitment to improve the protection for persons affected by conflict and to foster respect for and to the development of international humanitarian law.

This panel discussion should also be seen in the framework of the commemoration of the 150 years since the adoption of the First Geneva Convention.

Further information:

Protection of civilian populations in situations of armed conflict
The ABCs of International Humanitarian Law
Strategy on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts

Address for enquiries:

Information FDFA
Bundeshaus West
CH-3003 Bern
Tel.: (+41) 031 322 31 53
Fax: (+41) 031 324 90 47
E-Mail: info@eda.admin.ch

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs