Event

An Interfaith Dialogue on Killer Robots

Hosted by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and supported by the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a faith-based dialogue on lethal autonomous weapons will take place at the United Nations in Geneva and online on 27 August. 

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The dialogue will be held as a side event during the meeting of the United Nations Group of Government Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, taking place 26-30 August.

A representative from the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs will be speaking and attending.

The WCC will moderate the event, and panellists will include speakers representing Christianity, Islam, Soka Gakkai, and the Baha’i faiths.

A 75-minute discussion will provide an overview of the challenges and concerns posed by autonomous weapons systems, and share some of the activities in which faith groups are engaging to raise awareness of these concerns.

Speakers will also address the ethical risks posed by machines that target humans, and examine the impact of digital dehumanization—humans being reduced to data, and the potential loss of human agency in the use of force. 

Comments, as well as a question-and-answer session from the audience, will offer possible solutions to safeguard against these challenges and concerns through the negotiation of an international, legally-binding instrument. Participants will also share views on opportunities to enhance collaboration toward building support for the launch of international negotiations on autonomous weapons systems. 

The list of speakers:

  • Rev Kolade Fadahunsi, World Council of Churches;
  • Raza Shah Khan, SPADO;
  • Ms. Hayley Ramsey-Jones, Sokka Gakkai international;
  • Ms Simin Fahandej, representative of Baha’i.

Follow the livestream of the event