GGE on LAWS in March 2026

The Group of Governmental Experts on Emerging Technologies in the Area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (GGE on LAWS) will convene in Geneva from 2–6 March and 31 August–4 September 2026, pursuant to a decision of the 2025 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).

The mandate provides for 10 days of deliberations focused on further considering and formulating, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument—without prejudging its nature—and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). Discussions will build on the group’s previous recommendations and conclusions, taking into account existing CCW Protocols, proposals by High Contracting Parties, and legal, military, and technological expertise.

The provisional agenda includes adoption of the agenda and rules of procedure, organisation of work, substantive consideration of elements related to LAWS, other matters, and adoption of the final report.

Two side events are scheduled on 3 March. A briefing organised by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in cooperation with Canada’s Department of National Defence, will present findings from a report on responsible procurement of military AI and its implications for autonomous weapons (09:00–09:50, Room XII). Later that day, the UN Institute for Disarmament Research will host a pre-launch event for its Field Manual on LAWS and international humanitarian law, outlining its structure and illustrative scenarios (13:15–14:30, Room XII).