Philippines Pushes for Rights-Based Governance Regime on New and Emerging Technologies

GENEVA 13 March 2025 – Philippine Permanent Representative to the United  Nations Carlos D. Sorreta reiterated the Philippines’ call for a robust global governance  regime for autonomous weapons systems firmly anchored on international humanitarian and  human rights laws, at a panel discussion on protecting children in armed conflict in the context of new and emerging technologies, held on 10 March 2025 on the sidelines of the ongoing 58th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

Noting the ethical and legal questions on the development and use of new technologies, particularly autonomous weapons systems, Ambassador Sorreta said that existing multilateral frameworks are inadequate to regulate the design, development and use of new technologies. 

“In conventional conflicts, children already face varied risks. In a large-scale, fully automated  warfare, these risks will be magnified to unimaginable proportions…The Philippines firmly  believes that technological progress must not come at the expense of human rights and  dignity. Technology must empower, not endanger lives” , Ambassador Sorreta explained. 

In 2023, the Philippines, together with fourteen (14) other countries, proposed a draft protocol on fully autonomous weapons systems under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The Philippines envisions a legally binding instrument enshrining meaningful human control as a cardinal concept.  

“Machines, devoid of the capability to judge, empathize and understand context, cannot and should not be allowed to arbitrate on matters affecting the most fundamental of rights – the right to life”, Ambassador Sorreta added. 

On the sidelines of the event, Ambassador Sorreta met with UN Secretary General Special  Representative on Children and Armed Conflict (SRSG) Virgine Gamba to discuss the  country’s accomplishments in its continuing efforts to strengthen domestic mechanisms to  promote and protect children’s rights, including in the context of armed conflict.  

The Philippines, along with Kazakhstan and Slovenia, co-sponsored the panel discussion  which was co-organized by Italy and the Office of the UN SRSG. The speakers included Mr  Fausto Pocar, Professor, University of Milan, Former President ICTY and HR Committee; Mrs  Dato’ Shyamala Alagendra, International Criminal Lawyer; and Mrs Mikiko Otani, Former  Member of the Committee on the Rights of Child. The discussion was moderated by Laura  Guercio, Secretary-General Universities Network for Children in Armed Conflict. END

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