"As the integration of automation in weaponry increases and the use of artificial intelligence in the military domain grows in popularity, the need for the prohibition and regulation of autonomous weapons only grows in urgency." Yanitra Kumaraguru, Coordinator for the Sri Lanka Campaign to Stop Killer Robots writes in her latest article.

Read the article here:

https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/Autonomous-Weapons-a-euphemism-for-Killer-Robots/231-296258#:~:text=Autonomous%20weapon%20systems%20are%20weapons,rather%20than%20direct%20human%20inputs.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is currently working on surveying and collecting data on explosive ordnance victims, in line with Article 7 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). 

The data collection form for "Victim Assistance Needs Assessment" was reviewed yesterday, with the relevant ministries and partner organizations. The Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines (SLCBL) actively engages with the Government in this regard. The survey is to be conducted at the end of 2024.

This effort is coordinated by the National Mine Action Center (NMAC) of Sri Lanka.

This week (19 Aug-23Aug), the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) celebrated its 10th anniversary at the 10th Conference of States Parties (CSP) to the ATT at Centre International de Conférences, Genève - CICG. 

At present, there are 115 states parties and 130 signatory states to the ATT. The Maldives is the only State Party from South Asia to the ATT since 2019. The FDD is happy about the Maldivian Government’s commitment towards implementation of the ATT in the Maldives. The FDD continues to advocate for Sri Lanka’s accession to the ATT and encourages Sri Lanka to accede to the ATT without delay.

Yesterday, the Forum on Disarmament and Development met the Peace and Development Advisor to the United Nations in Sri Lanka—Mr. Patrick Mc Carthy at the United Nations Office in Colombo. At the meeting, the FDD highlighted our advocacy efforts that have resulted in Sri Lanka and other countries in the region joining and implementing key disarmament and disability rights conventions and treaties. The advocacy efforts of the Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines has resulted in the successful implementation (via local legislation) of the Ottawa Convention in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s mine action success was also acknowledged at the meeting.

Further, Sri Lanka’s role as a soft power in the region on the subject of disarmament (especially on matters concerning nuclear weapons) was also discussed at the meeting. 

In addition to this, due to the escalation of small arms use in the country in the past few months, the FDD highlighted the need to constructively engage with the UNPoA, re-establish the Small Arms Commission and amend existing acts relating to small arms and light weapons in order to improve the overall human security of Sri Lanka.

The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Secretariat in Geneva conducted a "Train the Trainers" workshop in Bangkok, Thailand from the 8th to the 12th of July, 2024.

The workshop was attended by states, signatory states, non-state parties and civil society representing China, Japan, Maldives, Philippines, Thailand, Mongolia, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

At the workshop, the Thai Government noted that they are currently working towards ratifying the ATT. We would also like to commend the Government of Maldives' productive engagement with the ATT at the workshop.

Our engagement with the Maldivian Government has paved the way for Maldives accede to the not only the ATT but the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as well.

We wish the parties that took part in the workshop all the best with their treaty implementation efforts and encourage them to continue supporting the universalization of treaties.

This week, the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC)'s Victim Assistance (VA) experts were invited by the Government of Sri Lanka to assist with the implementation of VA in #SriLanka. Mr. Firoz Alizada of the ISU of APMBC met with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs  - Sri Lanka, Ministry of Justice, Social Services, Ministry of Health - Sri Lanka, National Mine Action Center, local and international organizations and experts in the field to discuss the challenges faced in VA and provided information on VA commitments under the APMBC. The Forum on Disarmament and Development is happy to be a part of this important discussion.

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