Conventional weapons under the spotlight in Geneva

From 31 August to 2 September, high contracting parties of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW)—a treaty that restricts or prohibits weapons that have been deemed “excessively injurious” or to have indiscriminate effects—met in Geneva to prepare for the treaty’s Fifth Review Conference, which will be held in December. The highlight of the Preparatory Committee was the widespread support for a recommendation to the Review Conference to set up a group of government experts on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Participants also engaged in significant discussions about improvised explosive devices, anti-vehicle mines, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. In addition, some states and representatives of civil society questioned the efficacy of the CCW’s Protocol III on incendiary weapons.

Read more with Reaching Critical Will’s report on the PrepCom.