The Manuel Ballbé Chair, present in Geneva in the global debate on Autonomous Weapons: participation through ICRAC and presence of Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez

The first sessions of 2026 of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) have once again placed Geneva at the global centre of the debate on the regulation of autonomous weapons . From 2 to 6 March, representatives of 128 States, international organisations and independent experts resumed negotiations in a year considered decisive for defining the elements of a future international instrument on weapons systems based on artificial intelligence. According to the current mandate, 2026 is the last year in which the GGE must work “by consensus” on a set of elements that could lead to a regulatory instrument on these technologies.

In this critical context, the Manuel Ballbé Chair in Human Security and Global Law has been present through its participation in ICRAC (International Committee for Robot Arms Control) , one of the main expert voices that has been promoting the development of clear, enforceable standards focused on the protection of people for more than a decade. The Chair's contribution has been materialized through the direct presence of Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez , member of ICRAC and academic observer in these sessions.

A decisive year for the governance of autonomous weapons

The GGE Chair, Ambassador Robert in den Bosch, has publicly stated that progress towards a binding international framework “is urgent” and that the risk of being left behind in the face of technological acceleration is real. Recent statements suggest that there is broad consensus that International Humanitarian Law applies to such systems, but “specific standards remain virtually non-existent.”

This lack of specific standards is precisely what has motivated the activism of civil society and expert communities such as ICRAC, which insist on the need to establish, at a minimum:

• positive obligations on meaningful human judgment,

• specific prohibitions of certain types of systems that cannot guarantee human control,

• and transparency and accountability requirements.

Organizations such as Human Rights Watch have also called for strengthening these prohibitions, especially on systems that can select and target individuals without human oversight. [ cfr.org ]

The contribution of Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez and the role of ICRAC

During the March session, Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez participated in the preparation and defense of ICRAC's contributions, focused on three main areas:

1. Structural risks of lethal autonomy

ICRAC has highlighted that autonomous systems not only pose technical problems, but also systemic risks to international stability, the increase in conflicts and the dehumanization of war.

2. The need to ensure meaningful human control

Aligning with the proposals of the current Rolling Text, ICRAC advocates the creation of a clear legal standard that ensures that decision-making on targets and the use of force remain human responsibility in all circumstances. This is also one of the central lines discussed in Geneva.

3. The ethical and democratic dimension of the problem

A key contribution of Dr. Rodríguez has been to emphasize that the governance of military AI is not just a technical or legal issue , but a question of democratic values . The expansion of automated systems capable of making critical decisions can alter the balance between institutions, citizens and armed forces, and for this reason a transparent, participatory and overseen framework is needed.

The Manuel Ballbé Chair and its mission in the global debate

The Chair's participation in this diplomatic space is part of its founding mission: to promote critical, interdisciplinary and public good-oriented analysis of emerging technologies and human security. The presence in Geneva allows:

• transfer academic perspectives to the spaces where international standards are defined,

• strengthen international collaboration with actors such as ICRAC, Stop Killer Robots or research centers,

• and ensuring that the voice of civil society is present in a debate often dominated by geopolitical and military considerations.

As 2026 approaches, the pace of negotiations and political pressure will increase. Everything indicates that, despite the consensus on the need to move forward, agreement on a binding instrument will not be easy. The GGE President himself has admitted that the deadline set by the UN Secretary-General to achieve a legal instrument this year “will be difficult to meet”.

Looking ahead

From the Manuel Ballbé Chair we will continue working alongside ICRAC and the international community to promote robust regulation that ensures:

• the protection of human rights,

• the prevention of uncontrollable technological risks,

• and the preservation of an international order based on ethics, responsibility and human dignity.

With the presence of Dr. Joaquín Rodríguez in Geneva, we reaffirm our commitment to global AI governance that puts human security and international law at the center.