Legal Literacy- Reviewing the pros and consAutonomous Weapon Systems(AWS) within the framework of International Humanitarian Law. This analysis discusses the challenges posed by 'killer robots' to fundamental principles of war such as distinction and proportionality, as well as their potential use in accordance with modern laws of war.

Background

Current developments have resulted in changes and innovations in various aspects of life, including the development of weapons technology, which also has a significant impact on the way wars are fought internationally. One such innovation is the presence ofAutonomous Weapon Systems(AWS), which is a weapon system capable of selecting and attacking targets without direct human intervention. The emergence of AWS is a new challenge in the International legal system, especially regarding the operational suitability of AWS with the basic principles of International Humanitarian Law. AWS itself is a new issue that does not yet have explicit regulations and restrictions regarding its use in the international sphere. Therefore, there are pros and cons in terms of the acceptance of AWS in the context of International Humanitarian Law, because it has the potential to violate several principles of International Humanitarian Law that could be violated by AWS, namelyHumanity Principle(humanity principle),Indiscriminate by Nature(principle of indiscriminate),Distinction Principle(principle of distinction),Military Necessity Principle (principle of military necessity),Proportionality Principle(principle of proportionality), all of which are the main requirements for a weapon to be allowed to be used in armed conflict based on the 1907 Hague Convention, the 1949 Geneva Convention and Additional Protocol I of 1977. In International Humanitarian Law, there is a formula that functions to regulate the course of war and armed conflict in order to maintain a balance between military interests and humanitarian values, namely the principle of war. The principle of war was created with the aim of limiting and reducing losses and damage caused by warfare. The principle of war is not to deny the right of a country to wage war or use armed force to defend itself(self defence). Seeing the current situation where there are still so many armed conflicts occurring, requiring the parties involved to adhere to the principles that already exist in International Humanitarian Law in order to achieve a balance between military and humanitarian interests. Indonesia as a major participating country in the 1907 Hague Convention (rules on the use of prohibited and permitted weapons) and the 1949 Geneva Convention (Methods of warfare), and a party that ratified Additional Protocol I of 1977 (Protection for civilians) has a responsibility in ensuring that military technological developments remain in line with the principles of international humanitarian law