Statement by India at the 32nd session of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, under Item 2 (d) on Human rights implications of new and emerging technologies in the military domain delivered by Ms. Anupama Singh, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India, Geneva

Geneva, 16 December 2024 

Thank you, Chair.

We extend our gratitude to the Advisory Committee for its diligent efforts in providing research-based, comprehensive advice to the Council. The Committee’s independent expertise has significantly enriched the Council’s work, enabling a more holistic consideration of contemporary and emerging human rights issues.

2.  On the subject of new and emerging technologies in the military domain, we wish to reiterate the concerns we raised during the 31st Session of the Advisory Committee. We believe that the scope of this topic is exceedingly broad, and key aspects, including human control, require careful deliberation in the appropriate forum—namely, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). While we acknowledge the importance of addressing the humanitarian impact of these technologies, it is international humanitarian law—not human rights law—that governs their use in the military domain. International humanitarian law strikes a critical balance between humanitarian imperatives and military necessity, making specialized fora like the CCW better suited to address these issues comprehensively.

3.  This subject is already being discussed within the CCW framework through the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems. Introducing the same discussions within the Human Rights Council risks duplicating efforts and may undermine the effectiveness of ongoing expert deliberations. Such redundancy could detract from the Council’s objectives and the broader efforts to address these complex challenges.

4.  Furthermore, the rapidly evolving nature of emerging technologies, which often have beneficial applications, calls for a nuanced and informed approach. These technologies should not be prematurely stigmatized. While legitimate concerns about regulation exist, this issue is being addressed through multiple processes involving diverse stakeholders in both civilian and military domains across plurilateral and multilateral fora. Human rights discussions should refrain from preempting the outcomes of these specialized discussions.

5.  We request that the Advisory Committee takes these considerations into account when preparing its report on this subject.

Thank you.