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The Dehumanization Of International Humanitarian Law: Legal, Ethical, And Political Implications Of Autonomous Weapon Systems, Markus Wagner

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

In the future, a growing number of combat operations will be carried out by autonomous weapon systems (AWS). At the operational level, AWS would not rely on direct human input. Taking humans out of the loop will raise questions of the compatibility of AWS with the fundamental requirements of international humanitarian law (IHL), such as the principles of distinction and proportionality, as well as complicate allocation of responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This Article addresses the development toward greater autonomy in military technology along three dimensions: legal, ethical, and political concerns. First, it analyzes the potential dehumanizing …

The Role Of International Organizations In The Implementation Of Human Rights And Humanitarian Law In Situations Of Armed Conflict, David Weissbrodt

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

This Article will first review how nongovernmental organizations attempt to apply human rights law and humanitarian law during periods of armed conflict. It will next review the practice of one principal inter-governmental organization--the United Nations General Assembly--inciting humanitarian law. Third, this Article will study the reasons why the United Nations and international nongovernmental organizations should or should not refer to humanitarian law in support of their human rights work. Fourth, it will consider the preeminent position in implementing international humanitarian law of the ICRC, a private Swiss organization engaged in various international activities including specific functions provided by international humanitarian …