Human Rights Watch urges treaty to curb risks of ‘Killer

Human Rights Watch has warned that autonomous weapons systems, often called “killer robots,” pose serious risks to human rights both during conflicts and in peacetime. In a new report co-published with Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic, the group urged governments to negotiate a global treaty regulating such technology.

The 61-page report, released ahead of the UN General Assembly’s first meeting on autonomous weapons on May 12–13, 2025, highlights that weapons systems operating without meaningful human control could violate rights to life, privacy, and peaceful assembly. It also raises concerns about discrimination, lack of accountability, and erosion of human dignity.

Autonomous weapons use sensors and algorithms to select and attack targets independently, bypassing human judgment. Human Rights Watch stressed that these systems would be unable to interpret complex scenarios or understand the consequences of their actions, making lawful and ethical use of force impossible.

Over 120 countries have voiced support for an international treaty. The UN Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross have called for binding measures to preserve human control over force by 2026. Human Rights Watch emphasized the need for negotiations in a forum that allows voting-based decisions to avoid stalemates seen in previous talks.