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Autonomous Weapons Systems And Accountability Under International Humanitarian Law: Bridging Gaps In Liability Attribution And Ethical Governance




Muskan Sangwan, Queen Mary University of London


ABSTRACT


This paper analyzes the ethical, legal, and accountability challenges posed by autonomous weapon systems (AWS) under international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights frameworks. It evaluates AWS compatibility with core IHL principles—distinction, proportionality, and precautions— arguing that current AI lacks the nuanced human judgment needed for reliable target selection and force application. Proposing strict liability regimes and a binding treaty mandating meaningful human control, the study urges prohibitions on fully autonomous lethal systems to prevent dehumanization, discrimination, and unremedied harm.



Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research

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Abbreviation: IJLLR

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ISSN: 2582-8878

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Website: www.ijllr.com

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Accessibility: Open Access

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License: Creative Commons 4.0

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Submit Manuscript: Click here

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Licensing: ​

 

All research articles published in The Indian Journal of Law and Legal Research are fully open access. i.e. immediately freely available to read, download and share. Articles are published under the terms of a Creative Commons license which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 

Disclaimer:

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The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IJLLR or its members. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the IJLLR.

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