Diego Martín Chávez, Camila Cruz García, Paula Andrea Herrera Jaramillo
Los sistemas de armas autónomas han presentado un desarrollo acelerado en los últimos años. El uso de este tipo de armas en escenarios de conflicto armado no está regulado expresamente a la luz del Derecho Internacional Humanitario, por lo que se debe determinar si el mismo está amparado bajo las normas, principios y costumbre de esta rama del derecho. Las armas autónomas son un reto contemporáneo para el Derecho Internacional Humanitario, y únicamente el tiempo determinará si tienen cabida dentro del mismo.
There has been an accelerated development of autonomous weapon systems over the years.
These systems, its use and functionality, are not regulated by International Humanitarian Law (hereafter “IHL”). Therefore, it is a necessity to establish a legal framework based on conventional norms, principles and customary law, in order to determine if its use is covered by IHL. In this regard, it will be assessed if this type of weapons comply with the principle of distinction, precaution and proportionality. Secondly, an analysis about the possible promotion of impunity regarding the commitment of international crimes by these weapons will be studied. Thirdly, other means and methods will be studied, and, finally, the challenges presented by autonomous weapons in the present framework of IHL and its evolution will be studied. Considering the risks that these weapons impose on civilian population and civilian objects, its regulation, be it prohibition or restriction, is inherent. In reality, only time will tell if autonomous weapons comply with the legal framework of IHL.